An Introduction to Coordinated Needs Assessment Joint Information Management Training Bangkok 19 April 2015

Overview of module Overview and good practices of humanitarian needs assessment: 1.Key Concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment 2.The Needs Assessment Framework 3.Analysis Frame 4.Role of Information Management

1. Key concepts of Coordinated Needs Assessment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. The Assessment Framework

Disaster First 3 days First 2 weeks Second 2 weeks Onwards 1324 Initial assessment 0 Prepar- edness Situation analysis Multi cluster/sector rapid assessment MIRA report 15 days Cluster/sector specific Assessments 5 needs assessment phases for sudden onset disasters + MIRA Post disaster needs assessments, cluster/sector surveys, etc. 3. The Needs Assessment Framework

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

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

New and sudden event Significant deterioration in an ongoing emergency or new/sustained access to a previously inaccessible area New or additional risks to lives and livelihoods Stability Environment supports more detailed assessment and responses. Safe and sustainable access to the majority of the affected population Coordinated Key actors are involved in the assessment Information sharing Partners willing to share information Urgency Urgent need for new information to support funding requests Resource sharing Partners willing to share resources 3. The Needs Assessment Framework 1: Success criteria for coordinated assessments

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. The Analyis Frame

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

1.Crisis drivers 2.Conditions of the affected population 3.Capacities and response 4.Humanitarian access Priority humanitarian needs Likely Evolution Geographical scope & scale of the crisis Primary effects Secondary effects Underlying factors Severity of the crisis Humanitatarian outcomes Risks Physical disruption of key infrastructures and losses Gaps in response National and local capacities and response International capacities and response Affected population's coping mechanisms Operational constraints Access of relief actors to affected population Access of affected population to assitance Security and physical constraints Frame dimensions Analysing humanitarian emergencies

Standard categories of analysis SectorsTime Spatial characteristicsPopulation characteristics and Analysing humanitarian emergencies

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

4. Role of Information Management

Exercise IM continuum (main steps) Tasks Tools

Resources: info/en/programme-cycle/ Global cluster and agencies websites

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