The Borana society is characterized by its unique traditional institutions, the basic understanding of which is crucial for analyzing Borana pastoral livelihoods. The traditional institutional framework is briefly introduced in this chapter, albeit at the cost of oversimplification and the naivety inherent in a linear explanation of a complex system. A second part of this chapter discusses the survey methodology used to collect data on Borana livelihoods. The second part is intentionally detailed to provide a thorough introduction to the context in which socio-economic data were generated in this peripheral setting, and also to inform new researchers interested in the area.