This guide is developed to assist field workers and communities to analyse people’s vulnerability, draw action plans, mobilise resources and enact appropriate policies, laws and strategies to reduce their vulnerability to disaster.

There are few guidelines developed by other organisations on how communities can carry out vulnerability analysis (see www.proventionconsortium.org). This guide is specifically developed consistent with the PVA approach to:

— establish links between emergencies and development;
— recognise developments or events at national and international level and how these impact on communities’ vulnerability;
— use the output of local level analysis to inform national and international level action and policies.