Needs Assessment in Emergencies (with credit-rated option)

Overview

Before relief work can take place, aid workers need to understand the present needs and the resources available in order to plan and respond effectively. Conducting accurate, effective and timely needs assessments is key to the preparation and planning of humanitarian projects.

This course aims to improve the effectiveness of personnel engaged in humanitarian relief by taking you through good practice in assessment procedure, including frameworks and principles of emergency assessments. This is an interactive course that utilises group exercises and focused discussion, giving you the opportunity to share ideas and experiences.

The course covers four main themes: organisation and management of needs assessment, data collection techniques, analytical frameworks, and sector-specific issues.

What does the course cover? 

• Objectives of the needs assessment

• Terms of reference

• Planning assessment activities

• Information collation and report writing

• Data collection techniques - how they work, when to use them, and the meaningfulness of the data they produce

• Analytical frameworks that determine the focus of the assessment, the way assessment information translates into programme response and helps establish indicators for measuring progress, impact and relevance

• Data collection methodologies and analytical frameworks that are most appropriate to each sector

• Links between sectors

• Sector-specific benchmarks, especially Sphere Standards

By the end of the course you will be able to: 

• Design and plan an effective needs assessment employing tools appropriate for the approach

• Analyse assessment data to effectively report on beneficiaries’ needs and capacities

• Analyse cross-cutting and sector specific issues that impact on emergency needs assessments

• Demonstrate an understanding of the humanitarian context and underlying principles

• Describe the importance of using a participatory approach throughout the assessment cycle

• Demonstrate an understanding of the key skills, personal attributes and competencies required by an emergency needs assessor

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at people with some experience of working in the humanitarian sector. It would be most beneficial for aid workers who undertake needs assessments in their work or who foresee having to conduct needs assessments in the future. The curriculum will take you to the next level of competence in conducting accurate, effective and timely assessments – an essential skill before any form of relief work can take place.

The credit-rated assessment:

The Certificate in Needs Assessment in Emergencies is a competency based, assessed course worth 10 Masters level credits that can be transferred to the Masters in Development and Emergency Practice (DEP) from Oxford Brookes University or other similar postgraduate qualifications.

Please note there is a 15% additional fee to take the course as credit-rated. 

Day 1

After registration and introductions, the course will begin with a background of assessments and analysis before covering the topic of observation. After lunch, you will learn about secondary data. The day concludes with an examination of terms of reference.

Day 2

The day begins with benchmarks for assessment provided in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (UN) Consolidated Appeals Framework. The following session will cover assessment resource planning and a sector briefing on demographics, followed by a presentation on the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS).  In the afternoon, the course covers spatial data and mapping followed by a sector briefing on logistics.

Day 3

The day begins with an examination of participatory assessment techniques. Briefings on the Security and WASH sectors will follow.  Semi-structured interviews start the afternoon session. The day ends with sector briefings on shelter and education

Day 4

Sector briefings on food security/nutrition, health, and protection start the day. Afterwards, you will learn about collating and sharing data. The remainder of the day is spent doing a hands-on analysis exercise.

Day 5

The analysis exercise continues into the morning of the fifth day. You will then learn about reporting before preparing and giving presentations on the topic. The last session is reserved for wrapping up the course: recapping the key points, answering any lingering questions, completing course evaluations, and receiving your certificates of completion. The last day ends early at 16.00 pm.

FAQs

Early Bird tickets (10% Discount) are available until 1 month before the course start date, after which standard fees will apply.

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at people with some experience of working in the humanitarian sector. It would be most beneficial for aid workers who undertake needs assessments in their work or who foresee having to conduct needs assessments in the future. The curriculum will take you to the next level of competence in conducting accurate, effective and timely assessments – an essential skill before any form of relief work can take place.

What is the credit-rated fee for?

All participants will be assessed on the in-class component of the assessment process and provided with feedback.

An additional charge of 15% of course fees applies for those wishing to complete the post-class written assessment.

The additional 15% charge can be paid at the time of the original course booking, or at any subsequent time before submission of the written assignment. Please note that the assessment fee must be paid before RedR can assess and provide feedback on your written assignment.

Payment of the credit-rating fee signals intent to complete the assessment process. The credit-rating fee is charged in line with RedR UK's agreement with Oxford Brookes University and is therefore non-refundable.

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

The minimum age for this event is 18.

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

The nearest service is Vauxhall Station (Victoria line), approximately 5 minutes' walk.  Oval or Kennington Stations (Northern Line) are approximately 10 minutes’ walk. Buses 2 /3 / 36 / 44 / 59 /77 / 88 / 159/ 185 / 196/ 322 / 344 stop nearby.

What's the refund policy?

-For bookings cancelled two or more weeks before a course, administrative charges will apply. Applicants will be entitled to a refund of 85% of the course fees paid, or if places are available will be offered a transfer of 90% of the course fees paid onto the next instance of the course. 
-For bookings cancelled one to ten working days* before a course begins, 25% of the course fee will be refunded (*during normal UK working days, Monday-Friday and working hours 9am-5pm).
-For bookings cancelled less than 24 hours (working days only) before a course, or after a course has started, no refund will provided. 
-If the applicant chooses to transfer to another course and then cancels their booking a second time, neither a further transfer nor a refund will be offered.
-The refund must be claimed within two months from the cancelled course start date.
-Please note that unfortunately we are only able to cover our local bank charges and not the recipient’s bank charges when we make refunds.
-Refunds may take up to 30 days.

In case of any complaint regarding the service provided by RedR, please contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within one working day (Monday-Friday).

Cost

£560.00 - £1354.00