The Needs Assessment Handbook consolidates existing policies, practices and guidance, and represents the first guidance UNHCR has produced on needs assessments that applies to all sectors, situations, methods, and populations of concern.
The Handbook is based on existing UNHCR guidance and practice on needs assessment that have been consolidated into a single reference source. It also reflects inter-agency guidance and tools on needs assessments, including guidance from the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) and the IASC Needs Assessment Task Force.
Needs assessment practices and requirements evolve over time as new operational environments emerge. For example, the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) will amplify refugee host population voices in needs assessments. In order to respond to and capture changes, ideas and the dialogue, UNHCR has developed this site as a way to access materials, tools, request for field support and introduce a feedback mechanism. While the site is currently in development, it will evolve to serve as the host location for UNHCR needs assessment dialogue, tool exchange and updates. This is part of the wider commitment to continue to professionalize needs assessment practices in order to improve protection outcomes for the populations we serve.
Purpose
The purpose of the UNHCR Needs Assessment Handbook is twofold:
- To delineate UNHCR’s role in the coordination of humanitarian needs assessments; and
- To offer practical advice on how to appropriately design and conduct needs assessments and needs analyses for informed decision-making and needs-based response planning.
The Handbook provides an assessment framework for UNHCR in a variety of contexts.
Scope
This Handbook is designed for use by all UNHCR staff and partners involved in needs assessments. This includes those responsible for overseeing an assessment and those directly undertaking, managing, or coordinating such a process, whether specialists or generalists.
The Handbook will apply in all UNHCR operations and phases, from preparedness to emergency response to protracted situations, in four distinct planning and coordination models:
- UNHCR Operations Management Cycle;
- UNHCR-led response in refugee situations;
- UNHCR as cluster lead and cluster member in IDP situations and other non-refugee humanitarian crises; and
- UNHCR in mixed situations with refugees and IDPs.
Note that, as a general matter, UNHCR does not provide in-kind humanitarian assistance to stateless populations nor conduct regular needs assessments with regard to stateless populations. UNHCR implements its statelessness mandate to identify and protect stateless persons and to prevent and reduce statelessness primarily through advocacy with governments and others, and without humanitarian needs assessments. While needs assessments generally are not conducted in statelessness situations, many of the general information management and protection principles outlined in this Handbook will apply to statelessness responses, too.