Project Overview:
Change Alliance in collaboration with Heifer International successfully completed The Living Income Benchmarking (LIB) Study in Andhra Pradesh. The study was conducted across 14 mandals to estimate the income required for households to achieve a basic yet decent standard of living. The study followed the globally recognised Anker methodology, developed by Richard and Martha Anker.
The project aimed to establish a scientifically robust benchmark that reflects the real cost of living in rural contexts and highlights the gap between actual household incomes and the income required for dignified living.

Approach and Methodology:
The study adopted a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative research tools to ensure accuracy and local contextualisation.

Key Deliverables:

• Desk Review: Analysis of existing data, reports, and secondary sources
• Primary Data Collection including Key Informant Interviews with local experts, stakeholders, and community leaders and Focus Group Discussions with community members to understand lived realities
• Market Survey: Collection of price data for food, housing, and essential services
• Data Consolidation & Benchmarking: Aggregation and analysis of all inputs to calculate the Living Income Benchmark.

Outcome:
The study provides a comprehensive benchmark of living income for rural households in Andhra Pradesh and identifies the income gap that must be addressed to ensure sustainable livelihoods.