11.2 Target groups and targeting strategies

Sometimes in an emergency response, blanket assistance is required at first for the whole disaster-affected population. However, within any population, factors of vulnerability affect the level of need of different groups. Assistance needs to be prioritised to ensure aid reaches those who need it most. The people who are in most need of assistance are usually the most vulnerable groups in the population. These will be CARE’s priority target groups.

CARE’s emergency response strategy must analyse and identify factors of vulnerability in the population, and define broad target groups appropriate to the levels of need, vulnerability and available resources. Assumptions should not be made as to who the most vulnerable are, as every situation is different and must be properly analysed using many different lenses (for example, gender, livelihoods, cultural).

Detailed guidelines on developing a targeting strategy are available at Annex 5.7.