NEEDS ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW
Numerous initiatives currently ongoing
Various Design methodologies: ~50% of
information collected is common to
many tools
Development of needs assessment tools
wide range of time frames (not only
Rapid Needs Assessments)
Important to ensure compatible IM
standards for inter-operability
Participation of Assessments
Quality of Assessments
Common Definitions of key terms needed
NEEDS ASSESSMENTS CHALLENGES
ACE Project
Governments
U.N. Agencies and Programmes
and International Organizations
NGOs (international & local)
Civil Society
Red Cross Movement
Peacekeeping Missions
Donor Governments
Private companies and individuals
Military
HUMANITARIAN PARTNERS
ACE Project
THE KEY ACTORS
ACE Project
CISB
The many approaches to needs
assessment, both within and
between global and field levels,
requires broad participation and
buy-in to achieve harmonization.
Investments in leadership,
capacity-building, funding and data
management activities are
needed. Resolving the technical
challenges in isolation would be
insufficient.
TWO UNDERLYING FACTORS FOR PROGRESS
ACE Project
NEEDS ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
ACE Project
WHEN/WHERE WAS THE LAST (JOINT/ MULTI-
CLUSTER) RAPID NEEDS ASSESSMENT
CONDUCTED?
Some recent examples of assessments in Asia
Pacific: consider when to conduct,
timeframe, scale/ scope, purpose, duration,
participation, outcome.
• Pakistan (MCRAM I and MCRAM II
(sudden on-set vs non-sudden on set)
• Nepal Koshi Floods
• Indonesia
• Myanmar (VTA, Periodic Review, Periodic
Review II)
• Sri Lanka
In
creas
ing d
e
pt
h
Follow-up survey:
Health/Nutr/
Food/WES/etc
Mulit-sectoral
Rapid
Assessment
(qualitative &
secondary
quantitative)
Sudden
onset
1 wk
6-8 wks
3-6 mo
1 year
Preparedness
data collection
In-depth sector studies
(quantitative/qualitative)
Multi-sectoral survey
(probability sample):
Health/Nutr/
Food/WES/etc
Pre-Crisis
Immediate
Response Phase
Beyond the
Immediate Response
Tracking
Emergency
Sector-specific rapid
assessments
Early warning systems
RA Child Protection
RA Learning Spaces
Preparedness Monitoring
Performance Monitoring
Surveillance
Existing research/studies
Periodic surveys
NEEDS ASSESSMENTS – WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL
ACE Project
Need for information
immediately post-disaster in
order to:
Define scope and impact of
the disaster
Plan relief response fast
Better targeting
geographically and
programmatically
Basis for advocacy for
additional resources for relief
support
Timeliness: The assessment needs
to be carried out as soon as possible
ideally within the first 72 hours and
report need to be produced within 24-
48 hours following the assessment
Coordination: A multi-cluster and
inter-agency approach is most
beneficial
Methodology: In order to ensure
credibility of data and to ensure
consistency of data collection, a
standard method needs to be agreed
upon including a standard
assessment format/approach
NEEDS ASSESSMENTS – WHAT IS ESSENTIAL
ACE Project
Technology: Use of technology where
this is applicable in support of timely
and high quality rapid assessments:
mobile phones, GPS, data processing
and reporting software
Preparedness: The following key
steps need to be agreed upon prior to
the disaster:
•Who coordinates the assessment?
•Who carries out the assessment?
•Assessment indicators/questions
•Assessment methodology
•Assessment reporting format, report
clearance authority and report
dissemination strategy
•Funding availability/ fundraising
NEEDS ASSESSMENTS – WHAT IS ESSENTIAL
ACE Project
Each cluster defines its
limited set of indicators and
questions for the multi-cluster/sector
questionnaire
Acknowledgment there is no ‘one-size-
fits-all’, however ensure there is
‘minimum standards for needs
assessments’, and compatible IM
system (WASH IM Cluster currently
being developed, Nutrition IMS
launched etc).
Agreed indicators, questions will lead
to consistent information and analysis.
QUESTIONNAIRE, INDICATORS, ANALYSIS
ACE Project
CAPACITY REQUIREMENTS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION
To complement the harmonisation, it is necessary to ensure that
human resources exist on the ground in the first 72 hours
following a disaster with necessary skills and experience to
collect accurate and relevant data for assessment.
Outsourcing of data collection to large roster of experienced
researchers with proven ability to mobilise within 24 hours
Non-UN researchers have access to non-permissive areas
(security), and vice-versa
Training of data collection teams, of cluster leads, of
assessment teams
Training to familiarise on questionnaire and use of technology
Data management and analysis
Reporting Formats
Funding