Coordinated Needs Assessment: Key Concepts & Framework

1. An Introduction to Coordinated Needs AssessmentJoint Information Management TrainingBangkok 19 April 2015

2. Overview of module Overview and good practices of humanitarian needs assessment: • Key Concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment • The Needs Assessment Framework • Analysis Frame • Role of Information Management

3. 1. Key concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment

4. What is a need? • A lack of… • A deficiency in… • A problem of… • An issue related to… • A gap in… • A shortage of… Where is the need? IDPs need psychosocial support and access to protected water sources, and attend weekly hygiene sessions. Response defining need IDPs are thirsty and have much less water available than before they were displaced. Gap defining need Preferredstate Actualstate 1. Key Concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment

5. What is needs assessment? Assessments can be defined as “the set of activities necessary to understand a given situation”. They include “the collection, up-dating and analysis of data pertaining to the population of concern (needs, capacities, resources, etc.), as well as the state of infrastructure and general socioeconomic conditions in a given location/area.” UNHCR 2006, referenced in IASC Operational Guidance 1. Key Concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment

6. Coordinated assessments • Harmonised (coordinated) • Multiple assessments with common indicators • Various interoperable methodologies • Single or multiple reports • Joint (coordinated) • Common assessment form • Common methodology • Common report Uncoordinated • Multiple assessments • Multiple methodologies • Multiple reports • Not systematically shared Increased coordination 1. Key Concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment

7. Why coordinate assessments? • Increased coverage, broader analysis (multi-disciplinary approach), better articulation of the needs of people affected by emergencies • Agreed prioritisation of needs to ensure the most vulnerable receive appropriate and timely assistance • Creates a common operational picture from which to carry out strategic planning and develop a coordinated response • Makes linkages between assessments and monitoring: are we responding to the needs of the population? How do needs change over time? 1. Key Concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment

8. Objectives of humanitarian needs assessments… To provide decision makers with good-enough information to enable them to set priorities and make informeddecisions about programs, system improvement and allocation of resources. WHO? Priority groups WHERE? Priority areas WHAT? Priority sectors Analysing humanitarian emergencies

9. Informs: • Flash appeal • CERF request • Humanitarian Response Plan • Sitreps • Operational debriefs / coordination meetings Humanitarian Programme Cycle

10. In-country standard structure for coordinated assessments HC/RC HC/RC ICCM ICCM Assessment and Information Management Working Group CLUSTER A Assessment focal point Assessment focal point CLUSTER C Assessment focal point CLUSTER B 1. Key Concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment

11. 2. The Assessment Framework

12. 5needs assessment phases for sudden onset disasters • Prepar-edness MIRA report 15 days Multi cluster/sector rapid assessment + 0 1 2 3 4 Disaster Initial assessment Cluster/sector specific Assessments MIRA Situation analysis Post disaster needs assessments, cluster/sector surveys, etc. 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

13. Needs Assessment FrameworkNATF 2012 – p. 13 Initial assessment Rapid assessment In-depth sectoralassessment In-depth assessment phase out secondary data + primary data (MIRA) secondary data + primary data (sector specific tools) Mostly secondary data secondary data + primary data (PDNA)

14. Seven things we need to know about the coordinated needs assessment framework 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

15. 1: Success criteria for coordinated assessments 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

16. 2: Adapt timeframes to response planning Day 1 ~Day 2 ~Day 15 ~Day 30 Phase 3 Disaster Phase 1 Phase 2 SA#1 48-72H D MIRA 15 days Sector reports Sector reports Sector reports Sector reports Sector / Clusters reports Preliminary Response Plan 5-7 days Strategic Response Plan 30 days 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

17. 3: Phases overlap Current timeline: Day 1 ~Day 3 ~Day 15 ~Day 30 Phase 3 Disaster Phase 1 Phase 2 Breakdown: Phase 1 Prepn Phase 2 MIRA Phase 3 Cluster/sector assessments Prepn Disaster Realistic timeline: Phase 3 Phase 1 Phase 2 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

18. 4: The focus changes over time Assessment focus Restoring livelihoods Saving and sustaining lives Re-establishing essential services Phase 3 Phase 1 Phase 2 Time and cost 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

19. 5: Precision and accuracy increase over time In depth – comprehensive and confirmatory Representative sampling Precision and accuracy Rapid – targeted and explanatory Purposive sampling Initial – ‘quick and dirty’ and exploratory Convenience sampling Phase 3 Phase 1 Phase 2 Time and cost 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

20. 6: Assessment provides more detail over time Individual Household Depth of information Community/Group Community Phase 3 Phase 1 Phase 2 Time and cost 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

21. 7: Data collection techniques are increasingly participatory over time Individuals survey Household survey Participatory focus Focus group discussions Community group discussions Key informant interviews Direct observation Secondary data review Phase 3 Phase 1 Phase 2 Time and cost 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

22. 3. The AnalyisFrame

23. WHAT? Priority sectors WHO? Priority groups WHERE? Priority areas Analysing humanitarian emergencies

24. Frame dimensions Analysing humanitarian emergencies

25. Standard categories of analysis Sectors Time Spatial characteristics Population characteristics and Analysing humanitarian emergencies

26. The number game – Beyound qualification... Analysing humanitarian emergencies

27. 4. Role of Information Management

28. Exercise • IM continuum (main steps) • Tasks • Tools

30. Resources: http://acaps.org http://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/programme-cycle/ Global cluster and agencies websites

31. Exercise (p24) Attribute List of information pieces: • Population figures by geographical area • In-country capacity • Cultural habits • Health mortality and morbidity rate from before the conflict • Contingency plan from before the conflict • Flood prone areas • Nutrition data in IDP camps • Food security data in conflict affected areas • Map of destruction of infrastructures • Database of security incidents on humanitarian workers • Humanitarian profile • Political situation/cultural background • Coping mechanisms for food security in non-conflict areas • Conflict events • Number of people in besieged areas • OCHA 3W • Number of IDPs in camps • Satellite imagery of border crossing points showing population waiting for opening • Map of Mines and UXOs • Number of people in severe needs for health • Market price analysis • Donor funding allocation • Shelter gap analysis • Elections coming next month • Stakeholders profile • Displacement patterns • Mapping of contingency stocks of food supplies • Phone coverage