Needs Assessment Task Force

The story of MIR(N?)A

IASC Needs Assessment Task Force

Geneva, 18 March 2011

Needs Assessment Task Force

The 'old' MIRA as in OpGuidance

Phase I: Multi sectoral Initial Assessment to

•Estimate scale & severity of the impact of the event • #s and location affected populations•Inform initial response decisions•Initial Flash Appeal•Preliminary Scenario Definition (after 3 days)

Phase II: Multi sectoral Rapid assessment to

•Highlighting priority actions•Inform initial planning of humanitarian response, •Emergency response proposals•Revision of Flash Appeal•MIRA Report (after 14 days)

Needs Assessment Task Force

The 'new' MIRA

Mostly similarities between phase 1 and 2•reports coming from phase 1 and 2 address similar questions• to answer these questions the same sources are used in both phases, • the headings of the initial PSD and MIRA report, and the subsequent humanitarian dashboard are consistent

Main difference between phase 1 and 2:• the deadline to produce initial flash appeal after 3 days, and its review after 2 weeks. •The answers to the key questions will gradually become more precise, and •there will gradually be more emphasis to use primary data collection to get better understanding of needs as expressed by affected population.

Phase 1

Monitoring & Surveillance

Systems

Population Based

Assessments

Undisrupted Monitoring Information Systems (H)

Undisrupted Monitoring Information Systems (H)

Undisrupted + Ad hoc Monitoring Information

Systems (H) Undisrupted + Ad hoc

Monitoring Information Systems

(H)

Initial Primary Community Level Assessment (iPCLA)

(J/H) Primary Community Level Assessment (PCLA)

(J)In-Depth Sectoral Assessments

at Community / Household / Individual Levels

(H/J) In-Depth Sectoral Assessments at Community / Household /

Individual Levels(H/J)

Country Profiles – Past Disaster Lessons Learnt – Disaster Fact

Sheets – Survey Reports (Nutrition, Food Security)

etc . (H) Country Profiles – Past Disaster Lessons Learnt – Disaster Fact

Sheets – Survey Reports (Nutrition, Food Security)

etc . (H)

National Emergency Response Systems, etc.. framed by

National Policies and Guidelines (H)

MIRNA Report 2(J)

Coordinated Assessments• Relative importance in time of the different Sources of Information in Needs Assessment• Recommended Levels of Coordination (J: Joint or H : Harmonized) for Data Collection, Collation, Descriptive Analysis, Interpretation and Reporting

Phase 2Phase 3

Cluster / Sector In-Depth Assessments

Phase 4Cluster / Sector

In-Depth AssessmentsIncl. Recovery Considerations

Data/Info SourcesSecondary

Primary

Inter Cluster (J)

Sectoral (H/J)

Ad Hoc / Specialized

Sources

Remote SensingMedia Reports - etc. (H)

Remote SensingMedia Reports - etc. (H)

Remote Sensing, etc. (H)Remote Sensing, etc. (H)

National Emergency Response Systems, etc.. framed by

National Policies and Guidelines (H)

Colle

ction

, Col

latio

n &

Des

crip

tive

Anal

ysis

Inte

rpre

tatio

n /

Repo

rting

Inter Cluster (J)

Sectoral (H/J)

MIRNA : Multi Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Needs Analysis

BaselineFact Sheets

Etc.

MIRNA Report 1.0(J) 1.1 1.2 1.n

Humanitarian Dashboard

Needs Assessment Task Force

The MIRA Framework

The MIRA methodology understands needs assessments in phases 1 and 2 as the process of collecting, collating and analysing data from primary and secondary sources and of interpreting such information through a judgment process which relies as much on the collective capacity of the assessors as it does on evidence.

MIRA = SDR + PCLA

Needs Assessment Task Force

A new approach from the past

Acknowledge limitation of data collection in phase 1 and 2: •time, resources, logistics and many other factors related to the immediate post-emergency context limit overall scope Mix of on-site led, and off-site supportLimited primary data collection phase 1

Randomised HH survey not feasible in Phase 1 and 2, and as single information source will not provide all answers to all 'needs' questions, in all sectors, in any phasePurposive sample of communities, simple questions to KIMore emphasis on needs as expressed/perceived by affected communities

No recognition in the past of importance of secondary dataSDR, using pre- and post disaster sources,that does allow estimates and forecasts with numbers

Needs Assessment Task Force

The 'latest' MIR(N)A

No longer two distinct assessment methods between 'initial' and 'rapid' Drop the 'and': 'initial rapid'.

Confusion on the term assessment: •Understood by many to be equal to primary data collection by survey in the field Propose to use the term needs analysis: MIRNA

Confusion between PSD and SDR:Change PSD to MIRNA 1

Needs Assessment Task Force

The MIRA reporting

Timescale 72 hours 1st week 2nd week 3rd week 4th week 5th week

Assessments PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3 PHASE 4

Reports MIRNA 1.0 Ad-hoc updates ---> MIRNA 2.0 report Humanitarian dashboard

    ---> Cluster/Sectoral pages to support MIRNA report and dashboard

        ---> recovery assessments

Needs Assessment Task Force

The MIRA process: 5 steps

1. Start with 9 key questions, 23 sub questions

2. Define which sources to be used to find answers. • each question can be answered using multiple 1ry and 2ry sources

3. Lead the SDR and PCLA

4. Analyse the findings: •for each question compare different answers from different sources•weigh their validity, interpret them and add judgment• formulate an answer (for example as a range when it concerns numbers)

5. Use the answers to populate the report…

Needs Assessment Task Force

9 general questions = headings report

1. Scale and severity of the crisis?2. Needs?3. Risks?4. Projected trend?

5. National response capacity?6. In-country international response capacity?7. Humanitarian access?

8. Coverage, gaps?9. Strategic humanitarian priorities?

23 specific questions

Needs Assessment Task Force

5 steps from questions to answers

CLA 1 CLA 2 CLA3 SS 1 SS 2 SS 3 AnswersQ 1 X X X X A 1Q 2 X X X X A 2Q 3 X X X X A 3Q 23 X X X A 23

Primary data analysis Secondary data analysis

Analysis--->--->--->--->

Needs Assessment Task Force

Next steps MIRNA guidance

•Feedback on current draft MIRNA guideline•Work on 'loose ends': see draft workplan•Review sector inputs by clusters: annex 3

•Review (connection with) dashboard•Link with CAP/NAF?

•Cluster in-depth assessment phase 3: -Monitoring systems, various sources!-Validated questions for HH survey