Introduction: seconded by ACAPS to UNHCR to support needs assessment analysis &

coordination. ACAPS: Assessment Capacities Project, consortium of 3 NGOs (NRC, HelpAge,

Merlin) dedicated to improve assessment of needs in crises.

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What is Coordinated Needs Assessment?

An assessment planned and carried out in partnership by humanitarian actors, in

order to document the impact of a particular crisis and to identify the needs of

affected populations. The results of the assessment are shared with the broader

humanitarian community.

Purpose = shared understanding, increase coverage, prevent duplication, minimize

assessment fatigue.

Different types of assessment: uncoordinated, coordinated, joint and harmonized.

Historically most assessments (certainly in early days/weeks) have been uncoordinated –

with different tools, reports etc... resulting in much duplication and little sharing of

results/analysis and hardly any added value.

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Harmonized assessments occur when agencies collect, process and analyse data separately,

but where the collected data is sufficiently comparable (because of the use of common

operational data sets, key indicators, and geographical and temporal synchronisation) to be

compiled into a single database and used in a shared analysis.

Harmonised don’t always have to have a single report. Different sectors may choose to

emphasize diff aspects, but the key here is that the data is comparable.

Joint assessments occur when data collection, processing and analysis form one single

process among agencies within and between clusters/sectors, and lead to the production

of a single report. This is sometimes also referred to as a “common assessment”.

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Still to come:

- cross-analysis (combining assessments with number of registered / unregistered

refugees on map), more sectoral maps.

- Synthesis & analysis of key findings (form? > Disaster Needs Analysis?)

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South > many organisations expanding, considering doing assessments > great chance to

coordinate and harmonize approach!

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Resources available: UNHCR web portal + ACAPS

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Assessment expert = available to support with planning, methodology development,

training etc to implement harmonized or joint needs assessment.

Susan van Duijl

vanduijl@unhcr.org

76500371

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