Humanitarian context analysis
- Page updated on18 de April de 2025
We must understand and be able to define the problem that our project will address, as well as justify with evidence and technical basis the solution we propose. Key to this is the analysis of the humanitarian context. This includes the assessment and analysis of the needs of the population, the size and causes of the crisis, existing capacity and potential operational constraints. The analysis of the humanitarian context will provide the basis for the design of strategies and actions.
Table of contents:
Coordination and collaboration among stakeholders is key
Generally, in any context where we are planning to intervene, there are other actors who also need to know the needs of the population in order to be able to intervene. Therefore, collaboration and coordination among all is key to share information and avoid unnecessary duplication.
In most humanitarian contexts, as part of the coordination effort of the humanitarian system, there is already cluster organization and a significant information base in joint reports such as the Humanitarian Needs Overview. In addition, we may be involved in initiatives for joint needs assessments in which we may be able to participate.
Needs assessments
The review of secondary sources of information is essential, including existing reports or databases. Their analysis can not only provide us with data on the current context, but also help us to understand how this context has evolved from the past to the present. However, they are not enough.
It is essential to conduct needs assessments. These should address the needs of the population affected by a humanitarian emergency, their vulnerabilities and risks, and the damage to infrastructure or livelihoods. This assessment is always a fundamental step in decision making.
Needs assessments help us to obtain quality primary information on the geographic areas where we expect to be able to intervene and on the technical areas in which we are specialists. This work is not exclusive to the project preparation stage. Therefore, the monitoring and evaluation plans of the projects must include constant monitoring of the context and the needs of the population. In addition, some of the activities planned in the project implementation, such as studies, surveys or diagnostics, will help us to adapt the response, or to obtain more information for other future projects.
Depending on the type of crisis, the urgency of a response and our capacity, needs assessments can be conducted quickly or in depth.
Rapid needs assessments
Rapid needs assessments are necessary when there is a humanitarian emergency of more or less sudden onset. In these cases, it is necessary to act quickly to obtain information that allows us to act immediately. Therefore, in these cases, far from looking for perfection, we look for "good enough".. Obtaining detailed and in-depth information on a particular issue could delay the start of the humanitarian response.
In the first hours, and even before a possible large-scale activation of the humanitarian response, the only feasible option is usually the consultation of key informants. The priority is to obtain basic information on many important aspects of the vulnerability of the affected people. This can be achieved, a few days later, with multi-sectoral assessments, usually with mostly quantitative questionnaires with key informants. The information gathered will serve as a basic orientation to make response plans and carry out actions that will be modified and adapted later on.
In-depth needs assessments
More in-depth evaluations will come later. When we have the possibility of allowing ourselves more time, we must take advantage of it to obtain more and better information, with community participation.
This is the time to combine quantitative and qualitative tools. This is done with the intention of, in addition to knowing the dimension of the needs, understanding the causes and consequences of the problems and identifying viable solutions. Semi-structured interviews and group sessions are common, although there is an enormous variety of tools, both generic and thematic.
Community involvement in these actions should not be for a merely extractive purpose. On the contrary, it should serve to establish a dialogue, exchange information and lay the groundwork for joint decision-making.
Diagnosis of local capacity and operating environment
Assessing needs is fundamental but not sufficient. To design an effective, relevant and feasible action, we also need to collect and analyze additional information about:
- The dimension and determinants of the crisis. It is necessary to understand what causal factors have led to the humanitarian emergency and what lies beneath them.
- The existing response capacity. In addition to other possible international organizations that may have arrived earlier or at the same time, there are also NGOs in the country itself, and national and local authorities. In addition, there is civil society itself, organized or not. Individuals, families and communities are already coping with the crisis and helping each other as best they can. We must find out what they are already doing and how, what strengths and weaknesses they have, where we can add value, which actors we can support, or where there are gaps in the response where we can intervene as a priority.
- Operational and access limitations. It is often difficult or even impossible to have humanitarian access to certain populations or groups. On other occasions, even if humanitarian action manages to reach people, there are barriers to access. These limitations can be physical and geographical, but also security-related, when there are threats or attacks on health workers or humanitarian actors.
Depending on the presence or not of an organization in a territory and its capacity, this task of knowing the context and identifying what to do to respond to the needs of the population may be more or less difficult. Sometimes a team may already have a lot of information already collected and analyzed at the time of formulating a new project proposal. At other times it will be necessary to mobilize money and people to carry out an exploratory mission, national or international, which may require several weeks of intensive work. In these, in addition to interviews or group meetings with community members and community organizations, the information that can be obtained from other humanitarian actors and authorities is often key.
Analysis and strategic planning of our intervention
Beyond the methodologies and tools for information gathering or statistical analysis of data, we should consider others. These include SWOT matrices (weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities), CAME matrices (correct, address, maintain and exploit), stakeholder mapping and analysis, problem and solution trees, prioritization diagrams, comparative advantage analysis tables, market analysis tools, risk analysis matrices, etc.
While many of these tools can be useful for the design of specific projects, they are key to developing strategies and programs with a broader approach.
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