ABSTRACT
The analytical framework is a tool to help non-governmental organizations design and evaluate relief projects. An analytical framework sets out categories of factors to be considered and suggests a sequence or order in which to consider them. The categories must be comprehensive enough to cover all the important variables, but few enough that they are easily remembered. The chapter deals with a straightforward presentation of the categories of the analytical framework. It discusses several factors that add important dimensions to the analysis reflecting the complex reality of project contexts. The analytical framework is based on the dual concepts of capacities and vulnerabilities. The chapter explores vulnerabilities in order to understand why a disaster happened and what its impact has been, why it affected a particular group of people, and how to estimate the risks of future disasters. For instance, those who suffer from mudslides in an urban area may have needs for temporary shelters and medical attention.
