The concept of basic needs refers to the essential goods, utilities, services or resources required on a regular or seasonal basis by households for ensuring long term survival AND minimum living standards, without resorting to negative coping mechanisms or compromising their health, dignity and essential livelihood assets. Assistance to address basic needs might feasibly be delivered through a range of modalities, including cash, vouchers, in-kind and services. 
The Basic Needs Approach (BNA) views poverty as “deprivation of consumption” (inadequate food, nutrition, clean water, education, health, etc.) and is often opposed to the capability approach (CA) in which poverty is seen as “deprivation of opportunities” related to lifestyles people value. 
According to the BNA, absolute poverty is measured by comparing households’ consumption level to the absolute minimum resources necessary for physical and material well-being, usually in terms of consumption of goods and essential services. The poverty line is then defined as the amount of income required to satisfy those needs.
Reference: [CALP Glossary calpnetwork.org]