North West Agro-Pastoral (NWAP) livelihood zone extends west of Togdheer agropastoral livelihood zone and is bordered by West Golis Pastoral to the North, Hawd Pastoral to the south and Zone 5 of Ethiopia to the west.
April 2010-March 2011 was selected as the reference year for the baseline because the period was an average consumption year, characterised by average climatic conditions (good Gu/Karan rains), political stability (peaceful presidential elections in June 2010), good crop production, increased milk production, stable milk prices, low cereal prices, average livestock body conditions, and use of normal coping strategies by most poor HHs.