Take Action
The timing of and ability to conduct specific assessments will always be context and resource dependent. Do what you can with the resources and time available to you to capture the strongest picture possible of the context, needs and how to effectively respond to them. If you are in a startup phase, before you begin collecting data you will want to begin to consider who your target group for your information service will be. This is to make sure your assessments actually capture data from the population(s) you will serve, rather than a broader group. You might collect some early data from needs assessments and use that to determine who is most in need, further refining your assessments to capture the needs of that group. Prioritize and build a profile of your target group as the picture of the crisis becomes clearer.
| Coordination - Check if anyone else is planning on conducting assessments that speak to your data needs to avoid duplication and advocate for joint assessments inclusive of inquiries into information needs and communication. Only conduct a separate assessment if it is not possible to integrate into planned ones. If you are planning an assessment, collaborate with other relevant service providers to design the assessment and ensure any data or analyses conducted for RISE are shared with relevant humanitarian structures/mechanisms in country (national and international). |
| Inclusion - Make plans to ensure that people with disabilities, older people, or other marginalized groups participate in any assessments and that you capture meaningful data from these groups. Seek support from representative organizations (45) to ensure that these groups are included in any consultations, and conduct targeted qualitative assessments where necessary. Where possible, discuss the assessment with key stakeholders or representatives from potentially marginalized groups to tailor your approach and identify any existing data. Use the Washington Group Short Set of questions to disaggregate data collected through the needs assessment, in addition to age and sex (Additional translations can be found here). Include specific questions on barriers and preferences for communication. Train staff in how to provide reasonable accommodation to ensure persons with disabilities and other groups can participate in the data collection. See the IRC Inclusive Client Responsiveness Guidance (46) for guidance on collecting and analyzing disability-disaggregated data (pg. 29), tips and examples of reasonable accommodations when communicating with people with disabilities and older people to support training of data collectors (pg. 25 and 47), and tips for conducting accessible focus group discussions or key informant interviews (pg. 48). |
| Participation - At a minimum, discuss the assessment in advance with key people in the community, including leaders, heads of community groups and associations, staff from your organization, and local authorities. Ask for advice on how to conduct the assessment and if other organizations have already carried out assessments. Introduce your organization and the purpose of the assessment, and what happens once it’s completed. When there is more time, coordinate with external partners and local authorities and verify your assessment findings and analysis with the community. |
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Information Needs Assessment (INA) Toolbox
What is in the toolbox?
- Tool 3. INA Survey and Analysis Guidance
- Tool 4. Humanitarian Responder Questionnaire
- Tool 5. Media Station Profile Questionnaires
- Tool 6. INA Focus Group Discussion Guide
- Tool 7. INA Reporting Template
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In the first few days (48-72 hours) of an emergency
- In-crisis rapid assessment of the communication ecosystem: Focus on identifying what communication channels can be used to reach communities now. Assess the impact of the crisis on existing (remaining) communication ecosystems. Quickly assess areas which have lost coverage of phone, radio and TV, mobile phone networks, radio and TV stations which are still operational, areas which have lost power, and how people are currently receiving and sharing information. This will help rapidly determine which information and communication channels still exist/could be quickly restored and begin to consider how your agency will communicate with the crisis-affected population, given how the crisis has impacted the communication infrastructure. Check what data is already available from media reports or direct contact with media outlets and service providers; government information agencies; government situation reports; reports from other organizations working in the affected area or by directly contacting NGOs who have programs in the affected area and asking about people’s access to information and communication channels; agencies’ field teams conducting rapid field assessments. Observations on the ground can give some idea of the damage (e.g. damaged telecommunications towers; tuning in to radio stations to check which are still on air; checking for mobile phone signal in different areas).
In the first 1-2+ weeks of an emergency
- Rapid Information Needs Assessment (INA): Gather high-level information on channels of communication available, barriers to information access, trust in information sources, information needs, preferred communication channels by integrating a few priority questions into planned broader needs assessments by government, a single agency or multiple agencies (e.g. Inter-Agency Rapid Assessment, Joint Needs Assessment or Multi Cluster Initial Rapid Assessment).
In the first 3-4+ weeks of an emergency and beyond
- Detailed Information Needs Assessment (INA): More nuanced information on channels of communication available, barriers to information access, trust in information sources, information needs, preferred communication channels. This enables humanitarian responders to design effective programs based on the needs identified and, in sudden onset disasters, move from response to recovery.
When the responsive information service is functional
- Data tracking and analysis of client questions: Because responsive information services are based on two-way communications where its target groups can ask questions, you can keep track of the questions asked to assess trends in information needs and rumors once your responsive information service is operational.
> See Module 3.4.1 for more information on how data collection on two-way communications informs information production.