In many regions, disaster risk is continuing to increase, mostly because greater numbers of vulnerable people and assets are located in exposed areas. It is vital to start reversing these trends. Over the next 18 months, there will be negotiation and hopefully agreement of three major international policy frameworks, each with a key interest in reducing disaster risk and minimising disaster losses. These are 1) the post-2015 framework on disaster risk reduction(DRR); 2) the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)– a way of prioritising development actions; and 3)an international agreement on climate change – to establish global action on tackling climate change beyond 2020. If well integrated, these frameworks should be able to provide a unique opportunity to deliver a coherent strategy and implementation plan to address the drivers of disaster risk.A key way of linking these frameworks, particularly the SDGs and the post-2015 framework on DRR,lies in establishing common global goals,
This article provides results from an online survey of humanitarian workers and volunteers that was conducted in May and June 2010. The purpose of the survey was to understand how the humanitarian aid system adopts or incorporates human rights into its post-natural disaster work and metrics. Data collected from Haiti suggest that humanitarians have embraced a rights-based approach but that they do not agree about how this is defined or about what standards and indicators can be considered rights-based. This disagreement may reveal that humanitarians are aware of a mismatch between the rights-based approach to post-disaster humanitarian work and the legal framework of human rights.
Using participation and accountability as examples, this article identifies and examines this mismatch and suggests that the humanitarian aid system should more fully embrace engagement with the human rights framework. To do so, the article concludes,
This document uses lessons learned from recent coordinated assessments to distil key points,advice, and pitfalls in carrying out a Coordinated Assessment during the first weeks of a disaster. It provides a general introduction to what has been learned about coordinated assessments in terms of what works and what does not.
As such, it is aimed towards humanitarian personnel responding to or preparing for emergencies both at field and headquarters level.
A scenario projects alternative ways in which a situation might evolve. It is a set of informed assumptions about a situation that may require humanitarian action. Building scenarios involves speculating about an uncertain future and envisaging different possible outcomes for a given initial situation.
When applied to the framework of a needs assessment,scenarios are used to plan for possible future humanitarian crises and needs.
The objective of this technical brief is to provide guidance on how you could assess the quality of information used as evidence for decision making during humanitarian needs assessments. It aims to assist analysts in understanding the distinction between sources and information, assessing the quality of different data types (primary and secondary data), and using appropriate criteria for judging information generated through quantitative or qualitative research methods.
It suggests way sof dealing with inconsistent information and offers advice on how to use evidence, establish confidence in findings and, communicate uncertainty.
This Technical Brief is for assessment experts, information management officers and information analysts planning or implementing assessments in emergency contexts. It provides guidance on how to select and use suitable methods when conducting a population estimation exercise.This technical brief builds upon the desk review Rapid estimation of affected population figures, which has identified and detailed a broad range of different population estimation methods.
These methods are categorised by sampling methods, site estimation methods,counting methods, remote estimation methods and the usage of existing demographic data. It is recommended to use the above mentioned review as a reference for more in-depth information about the different techniques described in the present document. The present technical brief should be considered as a companion to the review.
Humanitarian needs assessments are carried out to determine the immediate needs of a population following an emergency or humanitarian crises.
Once an assessment has been carried out and data has been analysed, humanitarian organisations can make key decisions about their operational response including their goals, intended programmes and fundraising plans.
The aim of these guidelines is to describe the systematic development of an SDR during the initial days and weeks after a disaster.
It is based on ACAPS’ experience in developingSecondary Data Reviews for a number of Sudden Onset Disasters over three years.
The purpose of this technical brief is to assist humanitarian workers in using secondary demographic data in emergencies. It recommends building a context specific demographic profile based on available information. It proposes some rule-of-thumb standards, which can be adapted to the local context, tailoring to the purpose and the time available.
The document provides: 1. Long term guidance sheets (if you have a few days): identifying demographic ‘mega trends’, and possible interactions with disaster risk, impact and response. This broader perspective is essential for interpreting data in emergencies, and as input for longer term strategy (e.g. CAP orSRP) 2. Short term quick start (if you have an hour):accessing demographic data for immediate operational needs in a specific emergency,such as input in a flash appeal (e.g. within24-48 hours).Clearly, this supplements, rather than replaces,the need for primary data, but is intended to be helpful in preparing for large scale primary data collection,
The brief starts with an explanation of the main purpose of a questionnaire and the principles that should be followed to reach these objectives. Afterwards, the ten steps of questionnaire development are discussed. The brief concludes with sections on what to keep in mind specifically when designing a questionnaire and individual questions. It focuses on questionnaire design for interviewer administered (as opposed to self-administered) surveys, as this is the most common approach used in humanitarian emergencies. However, Section two briefly touches upon the impact of different survey modes on questionnaire format and wording.
This brief focuses on how to gather the information required; it does not provide recommendations on what information should be collected. In addition, the design, roll-out and ultimately the success of an assessment involves much more than designing a questionnaire. It includes deciding the sampling strategy, arranging logistics,
