Protection Measures

Output

Outcome

number of households benefiting from the supported protection measures

This indicator measures how many households benefit from protection measures that were installed or improved with project support. These measures help reduce the impact of hazards such as floods, storms, or landslides. Examples include improved housing elements, small flood barriers, drainage structures or wind-protection features. The indicator helps assess how many households are now better protected because the project introduced or promoted these measures.

Determine the indicator's value by using the following methodology:

 

1) Identify whether protection measures were installed at household level or community level. Choose the most suitable data collection approach based on this distinction.

 

2) For protection measures installed at household level, interview a representative sample of households. Use simple language. Ask households whether, during a specific time period (for instance the past 12 months), they received or benefited from anything that helps protect their home from floods, strong winds, or other hazards. If yes, ask what it was and adjust the answer options to the measures promoted by your intervention (e.g. small flood barrier, drainage or water diversion around the house, wind-protection feature, elevated platform, or roof repair). Then ask the respondent whether the measure is currently functional.

 

3) Count all surveyed households that have at least one completed and functional protection measure. A protection measure is considered functional if it is fully installed, in use, and capable of providing the intended level of protection against the relevant hazard at the time of data collection. Measures that are incomplete, damaged, poorly maintained, or not used as intended should not be counted.

 

4) When estimating the number of households benefiting from protection measures, whether through survey extrapolation (step 5) or through assessment of community-level infrastructure (step 6), clearly define the geographic area or zone that the measure is intended to protect (for example, households behind a flood barrier or within a drainage catchment). Validate household estimates with community leaders, local authorities, or relevant user committees to ensure figures are locally agreed, realistic, and consistent with how protection is experienced on the ground.

 

5) If your sample is representative, calculate the share of surveyed households with a functional measure and apply this percentage to the total number of project-supported households. If your sample is not representative, report only the number observed, without extrapolation.

For example, if 8% of surveyed households have a functional measure and there are 4,000 supported households in the target area, you can estimate that roughly 320 households benefit from the promoted measures, but only if your sample is representative.

 

6) For community-level protection measures (such as drainage canals or flood barriers), prepare a list of all measures installed or improved with project support and verify each site is complete and functional through a brief site visit. Estimate households protected by counting nearby houses, or consulting community leaders.

 

7) Calculate the indicator’s value by summing up the number of households that benefit from at least one completed and functional protection measure.

Disaggregate the data by head of household, location (urban/rural), type of supported measure, and other relevant criteria.

1) Before data collection, decide whether you will count households benefiting from the promoted protection measures or protection structures installed or improved. Use one approach consistently throughout the indicator.

 

2) Count only measures that are completed and functional, exclude any measures that are under construction or not working.

 

3) Direct observation is the most reliable way to confirm whether a protection measure exists and works, use it whenever possible.

 

4) Where resources allow, combine household self-reporting with spot checks of 10 to 20% of reported measures to verify accuracy.

 

5) Keep the same definition of “functional protection measure” in every round of data collection so your results remain comparable.

 

6) When extrapolating from sample data, clearly state that the total number is an estimate and indicate the population size used.

 

7) Access to and benefits from protection measures may differ across household types. Renters, people without secure land tenure, or residents of informal settlements may be less able to install household-level measures or may benefit differently from community-level infrastructure. Where relevant, document these limitations and consider them when interpreting results.