Iasc cluster approach evaluation, 2nd phase april 2010

Box 6: Current global initiatives relating to needs assessments
Humanitarian actors at the global level have recognized the acute importance 
of improving the quality and coherence of needs assessments and reducing 
duplications in their implementation. A range of different current global initiatives
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therefore focus on needs assessments, including: 
·   Post-Conflict Needs Assessments, which are multilateral exercises typically 
implemented by the United Nations Development Group and the World Bank; the 
Early Recovery Cluster has developed a similar method for Post-Disaster Needs 
Assessments and is currently developing the early recovery module of Post-
Disaster Needs Assessments.
·   Operational Guidance on Needs Assessment Coordination, including a web-
accessible tool-box (currently under development by the IASC Tasks Force on 
Needs Assessment (NATF));
·    Strengthening surge capacity through a roster of needs assessment experts 
under the Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) (currently being developed by 
HelpAge, Merlin and NRC under the direction of the IASC NATF); 
·   Humanitarian Dashboard (currently under development under the IASC NATF, led by 
OCHA), aimed at presenting key humanitarian information on the affected country;
·   Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA) of the WASH, Health, Food Security, Shelter and 
Nutrition Clusters;
·   Needs assessment framework for camp coordination and camp management 
(currently under development by CCCM Cluster);
·   Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) (developed by a consortium of 
NGOs and UN agencies in 2007);
·   Protection of Conflict-Induced IDPs: Assessment for Action (developed by Early 
Recovery/Protection Working Group in 2008)
49   For a comprehensive mapping of individual needs assessment initiatives, please refer to OCHA (2009).