1. Iraq Assessment Working Group Rapid Needs Assessment
- National Rollout-
Methodology in Practice 28 September 2017

2. RNA Tool The RNA Round 2 tool is available for download at:
Please refer to User Guide to install the KoboTool and the questionnaire on your mobile/tablet. The User Guide will be available for download here: .

3. RNA Methodology
The RNA methodology is a rapid assessment methodology based on a minimum of:
1 Key Informant (KI) interview and
2 Community Groups Discussions (CGD)
The 3 questionnaires from these 2 CGDs and 1 KI interview are then compiled into 1 single form which is submitted in English by the team leader/assessment manager.
This is the minimum level of data-collection for a submitted RNA form to be accepted. However more KIIs and CGDs are encouraged!

4. Part II - During the assessment mission
What are KIs:
Key informants are people with specific knowledge about certain aspects of the community, the site visited, the population or the emergency, either because of their professional background, leadership responsibilities or because of their particular personal experience

5. Part II - During the assessment mission
What are CGDs:
A structured discussion between a group of people, sharing their opinions, feelings and beliefs about certain topics, in this case the RNA questions.

6. RNA Methodology Unit of measurement: Village, town, neighbourhood
Source of information: KI interviews and CGDs
Selection methods: Location-based rapid assessment in accessible areas recently retaken and/or where there is a distinct lack of information
Interviewing method: Conversational with standardized meaning which is expected to increase accuracy
Geographic coverage: Accessible areas across Iraq in which there has been little/no recent assessments conducted .

7. Structure of the Kobo Collect
English version: Finalized. Package will be shared tomorrow.
Arabic version: Kobo Tool can be setup to be in Arabic.
Intro & Guidance
Basic Information (enumerator, location, KI)
Core Questions
Detailed Questions

8. Key features of the RNA Questionnaire
Collects basic information on humanitarian conditions amongst mixed population groups in all contexts related to conflict displacement
Covers basic topics organised by cluster – Food Security, WASH, Emergency Livelihoods and Markets, Health, Protection, Education and Shelter/NFI
Used in complementarity with existing tools primarily in areas with mixed populations – IDPs; Returnees; Non-displaced hosting, Non-displaced not hosting
Mixed form - open/closed ended, open ended with pre-coded answers. Core questions are mandatory.

9. What type of data can the RNA collect?
Screening – flagging a serious problem (y/n)
Q: Are there challenges in accessing food?
A: Yes/No/DNK
Scoping - main causes of the problem (ranking)
Q: What are the main food issues?
A: Rank 1: No enough food available on the market overall; Rank 2: Food available is of low quality; Rank 3: Not enough access due to security concerns.
Scale – Estimated proportion in need (%)
Q: What proportion of the population did not sufficient access to food in the last 15 days?
A: xxx%
Targeting – who is most affected? (vulnerable population)
Q: Which group is the most vulnerable to this problem?
A: IDPs/Returnees/Host community/Non-host
Explain the importance of the red screening question as core and the skip logic.

10. Procedures to conduct RNA
Before the assessment mission
During the assessment mission
After the assessment mission

11. Part I - Before the assessment mission
Identify the neighbourhood or village to assess and update the Googledoc RNA tracking sheet
Collate background or baseline data on that area and the affected populations in it
Familiarise yourself with the RNA tool, check that enumerators understand, if not then please contact us!
Form the team and arrange logistics
Know how to collect and send back data

12. Part I - Before the assessment mission
Identify the neighbourhood or village you plan to assess and update the Googledoc RNA tracking sheet
Identify whether it is an area that requires assessments; populated; large movements of people signaled; access is possible; security confirmed; lack of information; only outdated/incomplete/insufficient information is available
Or in this case OCHA/REACH

13. Part I - Before the assessment mission
2. Collate any background or baseline data that you have regarding an area and the affected populations in it.
Tips: Ask other NGOs, ask your local contacts. Don’t waste resources, time, and risk assessment fatigue in the area of interest if recent multi-sectoral information already exists.
What was the situation before the operations started? Do you have reports, other partners operating there?
What is already known? Have any assessment been conducted before?
Take maps. Ensure you have emergency contacts.

14. Part I - Before the assessment mission
3. Get familiar with the tool
Know and recognize the mandatory questions
Know when to prompt-response options and when not
Know which section follows incase you need to skip back
Tips: Print the paper version of the tool and have enumerators read through it all in the hour before your CGDs/interviews

15. Part I - Before the assessment mission
4. Form the team and arrange logistics
Team Leader (has assessment package + is trained/experienced)
Ensure the Mukhtar or other community/village/tribal leader is aware and happy for you to visit at the specified time/place
Make sure all security and access documentation is arranged, enumerators/drivers have access and are carrying ID

16. Part I - Before the assessment mission
5. Know how to collect and send back data.
Ensure you have the tool downloaded on your phone or tablet and that each team-member also has a hard copy printed
Allow for one day for the field visit, and schedule time to consolidate field findings into one form
Know how to submit one form via KoBoCollect either on a mobile or on the computer (Only the Team Leader ‘submits’ the one survey)

17. Procedures to conduct RNA
Before the assessment mission
During the assessment mission
After the assessment mission

18. Part II - During the assessment mission
Contact local community leader (e.g. Mukthar) before your assessment and explain the purpose of the assessment + get Key Informant contacts
Make a selection of Key Informants(KI) with relevant expertise (e.g. Mukhtars, doctors, teachers, recent returnees etc.)
Observe and take notes on the situation, context, risks.
Set up the interviews
Conduct the interviews

19. Part II - During the assessment mission
6. Key Informant (KI) contacts:
Ask if the Mukhtar or other leader can gather people for you (mixed groups, IDPs, returnees, females etc.) and provide you with a space to conduct the CGDs. If not do they know someone who can?
Can the Mukhtar/leader put you in contact with a KI? Or will the Mukhtar/leader be the KI interviewee?
Warning: Be weary of Mukhtars/leaders or other important KIs controlling the CGD answers. Try to keep them separate if possible. Also consider this during the debrief process.
Warning. Be weary of Mukhtars/leaders controlling the CGDs, thus the form is representative of their thoughts alone. Best to have the CGDs away from them if possible.

20. Part II - During the assessment mission
7. Choosing KIs:
Mukhtar
Doctors, engineers, teachers, etc.
Religious leader
Community leaders
INGOs
Local charities/NGOs
Note:
The main KI is most likely to be the Mukhtar/community leader but try to add a female as an additional KI, often older females are easier to interview
Note: These KIs listed are representative of the Mosul RNA. A full list is being developed that outlines which KIs are suitable for answering questions on which sector which will become particularly useful when using the RNA in different contexts

21. Part II - During the assessment mission
7. Forming CGDs:
If possible, 1 CGD should include the host/remainee population and 1 CGD a mixture of IDPs and returnees
However in areas with no remainees they could be 1 CGD IDPs and 1 CGD returnees
They should ideally include useful KIs (teacher, doctor), other common jobs (market trader, labourer) different profiles (married, single) and ideally both men and women
CGDs should include a minimum of 4-5 people
If there is the potential to have 3 CGDs (1 non-displaced, 1 returnees, 1 IDPs this is great!)

22. Part II - During the assessment mission
8. Observe and take notes on the situation, context, risks.
Use information observed about surrounding area to triangulate against what the community highlights as issues
Observations from team members who know the community are more reliable
This might be important later on during the debrief session
Eg. whilst entering the community look for damage, population activity, functioning markets, schools, health centers etc. in order to corroborate this with what you are told in the interviews

23. Part II - During the assessment mission
9. Set up the interview
Find a suitable location (e.g. safe, shaded, not crowded)
Ask for permission for the interview(s) to take place
Explain to the KI/CGDs what is the purpose of the assessment and how it will not result in immediate assistance
During the interview take note of the answers on either a mobile or paper RNA form

24. Part II - During the assessment mission
9. Set up the interviews (continued)
The interviews must include a minimum of:
2 CGDs with minimum 4-5 people, mixed populations (e.g. male, female, IDPs, returnee, host, market traders, labourers)
1 KI interviews with KIs knowledgeable about the area/population (eg. Mukhtars, community leader, doctor)
Remember: For each area assessed only 1 form is submitted!

25. Part II - During the assessment mission
10. Conduct the interview.
Use the RNA to have a structured conversation with the KI(s)
Paying attention to the type of question is critical for getting the right answers
Read the explanations (e.g. for most questions, you do not read the answers out loud).
Tips:
Skip through the form (‘Go to Start’; ‘Go to End’; Go to Prompt’) to keep up with the content provided by the KI
Pre-fill (or leave until the end) the section on enumerator details
Remember there is always a way to ‘Exit’ each question (prefer not to say, don’t know, no other info etc.)

26. Part II - During the assessment mission
Remember to:
Sit next to the person and do not tower above them
Try to not let one strong character dominate a CGD
Paraphrase and repeat to make sure you’re both on the same page
Do not engage in politics
Pause, stay quite and give KI time to elaborate the answers
Do not be bored, annoyed, exasperated
Be aware of time but do not rush, do not let the KI rush you

27. Procedures to conduct RNA
Before the assessment mission
During the assessment mission
After the assessment mission

28. Part III - After the assessment mission
11. How to do a basic debrief 12. RNA Main Team Debrief 13. Viewing all three forms for the debrief 14. Final form filled out and checked 15. Submission

29. Part III - After the assessment mission
11. How to do a basic debrief
A short 10 minute debrief should be held in the field or in the cars (due to safety concerns) whilst the CGDs are fresh in enumerators minds
You should discuss - Things that may be forgotten by the time you return to the office
- Main themes, anything said unclear, things to follow up
- What was learnt? Surprising? New? Clarify recorded responses. - Things enumerators noticed that that may not have been recorded - Any problems, concerns, things to change, tips for team leader

30. Part III - After the assessment mission
12. RNA Main Team debrief
This is very important and allows the team to discuss the findings from the 3 different forms and compile them together into 1 single form that is submitted in English to the server
It gives a chance for the team leader to make sure the data is clean and correct before submitting
It should, if possible, involve translations and checking with KIs if there are any mistakes or things that don’t make sense
Concerning English, multiple choice answers are always reverted to English however text answers are not. This is includes village names and ‘other’ answers. Some of these are quite particular to the situation/sector (give health example) so best to translate them as part of the debrief, this saves times and potential mistakes or problems.

31. Part III - After the assessment mission
13. Viewing all three forms for the debrief
If using several phones, several paper versions of the tool, or a mixture of both, it is easy to view all the answers together and fill out the fill RNA to be submitted
However if all three questionnaires have been filled out on 1 single phone you will need to extract the data and view it on excel in order to easily debrief.
Explain that little is gained by using the phones over the paper version of the tool given that the final questionnaire is not filled out in the field. Thus sometime easier to see the 3 paper versions together.

32. Part III - After the assessment mission
Plug the phone/tablet into you computer and access the KoBo/ODK folder
Plug the phone/tablet into you computer and access the KoBo/ODK folder
Copy the .XML file to your desktop,
Right-click, open with Excel as a read-only workbook
Explain that little is gained by using the phones over the paper version of the tool given that the final questionnaire is not filled out in the field. Thus sometime easier to see the 3 paper versions together. Explain how you will need to extract the three forms separately and copy and paste the info Excel.

33. Part III - After the assessment mission
14. Final form filled out and checked
STEP 1: Team members conduct interviews with the KIs (either on paper, or on Kobo on their phones), they do not submit these forms
STEP 2: Assessment manager debriefs other members of teams
STEP 3: Assessment manager then fills in one final form in English for the neighborhood/village, which will be submitted to the OCHA server
Community Group Discussion 1
Community Group Discussion 2
Key Information Interview
Explain exactly how you and others have done the debrief, compiling of forms and final submission in the past. Explain exactly why this is the easiest/quickest way. Go into detail about the kind of problems faces and how this debriefing session solves and also explain what happens when people don’t do it.
1 FINAL FORM in English

34. Part III - After the assessment mission
15. Submit completed assessment form
For example: 2 community discussions with 5 people + 3 separate interviews with key informants = 5 forms These 5 forms are then analysed and discussed by the team with the result being a final master form Remember: At the end there must be 1 questionnaire in English submitted per neighbourhood or village.

35. The End