screen 1 of 27 collaboration and advocacy techniques deciding on a collaborative assessment learning...

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Collaboration and Advocacy Techniques

Deciding on a collaborative assessment

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understand the advantages and disadvantages of conducting joint or collaborative food security assessments.

Describe the process for developing a collaborative work plan.

Identify networking tools for more effective collaboration

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INTRODUCTION

It is important to learn how to communicate the food security information gathered through assessments.

The knowledge sharing and acceptance of food security information can be made easier by deciding on collaborative assessments.

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The purpose of an assessment is to:

INTRODUCTION

determine what the situation is;

establish what needs exist; and

ensure appropriate and timely interventions. This is best done when multiple

stakeholders are working together from the outset of a crisis.

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WHEN COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT IS APPROPRIATE

Collaborations are most appropriate when a number of organizations and government partners are working together within a geographical area implementing programmes.Tip

Use your skills to assess the needs of your stakeholders to determine what type of assessment should be conducted and in collaboration with whom.

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To decide upon the assessment type and collaboration, the most important thing to consider is what your question is.

WHEN COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT IS APPROPRIATE

FS assessments usually require information relating to the underlying causes of food insecurity. This information can already exist within organizations, and collaborations can be initiated by using existing secondary information, e.g. nutritional surveys.

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You may decide to incorporate indicators from the different sectors within your Food Security assessment or conduct a sector specific assessment along-side your food security assessment.

Your collaboration and coordination with other organizations will govern whether your dataset will be complete.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

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WHO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT

When deciding on who should be part of a collaborative assessment, the following criteria can be a guide:

1

2

3

4

Technical Dimension

These dimensions of potential collaborators are analysed in the next screens.

Institutional Dimension

Logistical/Security Dimension

Social/Geographic Knowledge

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1 Institutional Dimension

A collaborative assessment should promote a common understanding of a situation among multiple stakeholders.

A general list of key stakeholders to participate includes: national government officials;

United Nations; NGOs; and specific projects such as FEWSNET.

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FS assessments are technically complex by nature and require a breadth of technical expertise.

agriculture; livestock; food security; health/nutrition;

2 Technical Dimension

markets, conflict; gender; natural resources; water and

sanitation.

Depending on the specific situation to be assessed, the following areas of expertise can ensure technical breadth:

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3 Logistical/Security Dimension

To ensure a smooth flow it’s necessary to include a logistical and if necessary security person in the management structure as well as on each field assessment team.

For UN collaborative assessments in insecure areas, it’s imperative to consult UN Security in the planning process.

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4 Social/Geographic Knowledge

Collaborative Assessments can be conducted over large geographic areas, with diverse groups of people.

In order to ensure strong understanding of the area and local people, it’s beneficial to include in the teams people who have knowledge of the area.

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Example: Humanitarian Emergency in Southern Somalia

However, there are reports of large numbers of IDPs moving out of Mogadishu into the surrounding area due to insecurity. Malnutrition rates are high and incidents of Acute Watery Diarrhea have been reported. Market prices are also rising making it difficult for households to access purchased food and non-food items.

Let’s consider the following example...

In October 2007 there was a humanitarian emergency in the Shabelle Valley in Somalia (usually a stable food secure area).

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Considering the humanitarian emergency presented on the previous screen, a possible 5-person team, could involve the following participants ...

TEAM MEMBER INSTITUTION TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

Security UN, NGO or GovernmentSecurity training & overview of

security background

Health & nutritionUN (e.g. FAO, WHO UNICEF), NGO

or GovernmentHealth & nutrition technical

capacity

Water & sanitationUN (e.g. UNICEF, WHO), NGO or

GovernmentWater & sanitation technical

capacity

Markets

Specialized project & government,

FSAU (Food Security Analysis Unit)

Market knowledge & analysis

IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons)

UN (e.g. UNHCR, WFP)

Understanding on people’s movements, living conditions and access to food/non-food

needs and social services

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WHO ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF JOINT ASSESSMENTS

•Sharing of experience, skills and methodological approaches for food security assessments between partners.

•Valuable contribution of existing secondary information available within each member of the consortium for all sectors.

•Consistent production of reliable primary information.

•Agreement between the organisations on the findings.

•Opportunities to use a common analytical framework and feed the data into an appropriate food security information system (FSIS).

•Strengthened credibility of the assessment findings with decision makers and response organisations.

ADVANTAGES

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•The information is not aggregated and can be used by more than one organization for future programming, organizational monitoring and evaluation.

•Effective use of the information by more audiences with reduced duplication.

•Improved programme design and impact.

•Facilitates resource mobilization from different sources in a coordinated manner.

•Best use of available resources.

•Collaboration with national government will ensure a buy-in from the main stakeholders that will contribute to sustainable monitoring and project continuation.

ADVANTAGES

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• Difficult to coordinate in terms of timing, availability of skilled assessment team members and resources.

• A successful collaboration requires commitment from all members.

• Joint assessments need strong logistical support with clearly defined responsibilities.

• Difficult to agree on assessment approach/methodology.

• Difficult to agree on assessment tools and appropriate indicators.

• Problems in using the information within an common analytical approach.

• Collaboration endorsement on findings can be an arduous task.

• Different ideas on how to respond based on the findings.

DISADVANTAGES

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PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING A COLLABORATIVE WORK PLAN

Collaboration should occur at all stages of the assessment:

design;

analysis; and

communication of results.

Therefore, it is important that when you embark on planning a collaborative assessment, you follow a process of logical planning steps.

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The process for planning a collaborative assessment include eight steps:

Agree on the general objectives of the assessment

Identify the collaboration of relevant partners

Review all secondary information

Identify assessment methodologies to be used

Identify field tools to collect appropriate indicators

Develop a clear TOR for the assessment team membersAssemble the assessment team

Conduct joint logistical planning

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After the 8 steps process the planning tasks for the assessment should be complete. The assessment teams set out for the field work.

When the field work is completed, the information is analysed and cross-checked. Initial

All members of the collaboration endorse the findings and any differences of opinion are recorded.

A report is written and the information is fed into a food security information system (if available).

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TECHNIQUES FOR AN EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION

Collaboration can occur between actors during the collection and analysis of food security information.

Collaborative partnerships should be housed within the government where possible.Tip

You should find out about existing collaborative partnerships for food security in your country of operation.

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In order to succeed, collaborations need to be based on:

agreed methods for information collection;

agreed indicators for information collection; and

tools to analyse and store information.

This depends on the efficiency of :

• Food Security Analysis Systems (FSAS); and • Food Security Information Systems (FSIS).

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METHODOLOGIES FOR INFORMATION COLLECTION

Different factors determine which methodologies to use:• Who is the information for and how it will be used.• The type of assessment. • The geographical scope of the assessment.• How quickly the information is needed and with what frequency.• How much information is already available.

The approach for data collection and analysis has to be identified and a strong consensus between all partners should be reached.

Combinations of methods seem to work best to meet needs.

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STANDARDS AND INDICATORS FOR INFORMATION COLLECTION

Organizations working together need to have a mutual understanding of ‘minimum standards’ for food security. The Sphere Project outlines these standards.

Clear indicators will determine the completeness of the information.

Guidelines should be developed during the preparatory stage of the assessment and potential collaboration.

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TOOLS TO ANALYSE AND STORE INFORMATION

An integrated framework for analysis to represent all methods is a useful networking tool.

Improved Food Security Analysis Systems and Food Security Information Systems are the important tools to maintain effective collaboration.

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• Collaboration with implementing agencies/international and local NGOs on ground as well as government will ensure a coordinated assessment with credible findings.

• When you decide on a collaborative approach for a food security assessment it is important to take into account the advantages and disadvantages implied.

• Partnerships within humanitarian relief operations are necessary to promote consensus on information, agreement on a coordinated response and ownership.

• Food security analysis and decision-making should be a shared process with relevant organizations and government through networking tools and working groups.

• With a shared technical and institutional approach, a comparable and transparent analysis can be accomplished.

SUMMARY

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE...

Online resources

S. Maxwell and T. Frankenberger, 1992. “Household Food Security: Concepts, Indicators, and measurements,” IFAD/UNICEF http://www.ifad.org/hfs/tools/hfs/hfspub/index.htm

FIVIMS Fifth Meeting of the Inter-agency Working Group, June 2001. Inter-Agency collaboration, resource mobilization and constraints http://www.fivims.org/static.jspx?lang=en&page=meetings/iawgfivepgs/partone

ODI/HPN. 2005. SMART – a collaborative approach to determining humanitarian needs Humanitarian Exchange No.32 Dec 2005 http://www.odihpn.org/documents/humanitarianexchange032.pdf#page=38 ODI/HPN website: www.odihpn.org

Save the Children UK. 2002. The Household Economy Approach: A resource manual for practitioners http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/54_2331.htm

SMART Methodology Version 1 April 2006: http://www.smartindicators.org The Sphere Project Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response 2004 Edition: http://www.sphereproject.org

FSAU. 2004. Tsunami Interagency Assessment Mission Hafun to Gara’ad Northeast Somali Coastline Feb 2004: www.undp.org/cpr/disred/documents/tsunami/smasses0305.pdf

UNDAC (disaster assessment and coordination mechanism) http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1414

UNHCR/WFP. 2004. Joint Assessment Guidelines (with Tools and Resource Materials) First Edition June 2004 with http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp038210.pdf FSAU-FAO. 2006. Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification: Technical Manual Version 1 Technical Series Report No.IV 11 May 2006 http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/SODA-6Q68QN?OpenDocument

UN OCHA Relief Coordination – Coordination of Humanitarian Response & the Interagency Standing Committee: http://ochaonline.un.org/Coordination/MandatedBodies/InterAgencyStandingCommittee/tabid/1388/Default.aspx

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE...

Additional Reading

SADC-FANR VAC. 2002. Regional Emergency Food Security Assessment Report Harare Sept 2002

SADC-FANR VAC. 2005. Vulnerability Assessment Methodology Review Synthesis Draft Aug 2005 Tango International: Arizona

Shoham. J. Food Security Information Systems Supported by Save the Children UK – A Review

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