ParticipatoryVulnerability Analysis: A step–by–stepguide for field staff

The PVA itself evolved from a workshop
convened by ActionAid in Dorset, UK
in 2000. The workshop recognised the
importance of vulnerability in development
and emergencies-related work. It also
identified that one of the gaps was in
translating the knowledge of vulnerability
into practice. Specific areas included how
to build community resilience to disasters;
link emergencies and development;
influence policy and most of all motivate
the most vulnerable.
The workshop agreed to develop a guide
on PVA that will be used by field staff.
Thereafter a series of studies took place
in conjunction with Swansea University
(Centre for Development Studies) in
Bangladesh, India and Ghana. A field test
of PVA was conducted in The Gambia (May
2003) culminating in the formulation of this
PVA guide.