AWG Iraq Assessment Working Group Iraq AWG coordination

AWG Iraq Assessment Working Group Iraq AWG: coordination challenges and opportunities from the field CAIM Webinar Wednesday, 9 May, 15 h 00 – 17 h 00 Geneva time Powered by

Intro Coordinating assessments is challenging, but. . • It’s rewarding • It’s stimulating • It’s worthwhile • It’s IMPORTANT (HPC) • It’s NEEDED (ICCG, partners) Very easy Easy Moderate Coordinate Assessments in Iraq Coordinate Assessments Coordination Somewhat hard Hard Very Hard

AWG set-up in Iraq Understand the context: • Country context: read & research, ask & engage in discussions. • Assessment context: read & research, ask & engage in discussions. • Understanding stakeholders motivations and seeking commitments. • Identify assessment focal points / capacity / interest. Establish/strengthen assessment coordination structure • Set up first meeting - keep it open to IMOs and CCs (as of Jan. 2018 NGOs membership expanded to include NGOs who were previously represented by NCCI). • Prepare, present, discuss and endorse the Terms of Reference. • Agree on participation, meeting frequency, objectives/focus - partners want predictability, structure, direction. Offer it. • Expect challenges – listen and offer solutions. Work with Clusters and not against them. Try to make their time worthwhile.

AWG milestones National (2017 -2018) Sub-national focus (2017) FEB OCT • CASS Mission • Set up coord. mechanism APR JUN SEP JAN NOV FEB AWG Roadmap: focus, role and responsibilities • RNA Roll Out • RNA Training • Finalization of RNA v 3 • RNA Mosul Tool and piloting • RNA National Rollout • ERR Surge Coordination Trainings • AWG Set-up • RNA Dashboard • AWG TOR RNA Mosul • AWG Survey • RNA Set Up Coordination (stock-tacking) APR • Indicators Database • Tool Matrix • Revised TOR and membership • Mini-workplan • Linkages with ICCG, IMWG

Assessment areas in which the AWG should be more active Answered: 18 Skipped: 7 Responsible: ICCG, AWG [Source: AWG Survey, Q 6, Nov. 2017]

AWG challenges Answered: 18 Skipped: 7 1. COORD. /PLANNING Assessment initiatives are not mapped out to ensure complementary of data sources. – 44 % 4. ANALAYSIS There is no agreement on a core set of tools to use for analysis (e. g. agreed questionnaires, methodologies, reporting requirements) – 29% 2. DESIGN Monitoring information gaps is not possible due to a lack of agreed-upon common set of indicators. – 56 % 5. REPORTING Needs assessment data is not shared/reported in a timely and systematic manner – 50% 3. DATA COLLECTION No Secondary Data Review framework is in place to help develop a shared understanding of the situation – 35 % [Source: AWG Survey, Q 7 -11, Nov. 2017]

Other challenges In addition to the five issues highlighted in the previous slide, the following have also been raised/identified: 1. IM resources: lack of capacity, expertise, funding to coordinate needs assessments intra- and intercluster. Resources continue to be reduced as the Iraq humanitarian context stabilizes. 2. Technical capacity: Limited IMOs/staff capacity to help with the data cleaning and the data analysis (e. g. visualize/interpret data; build platforms). 3. Info-sharing: - subnational clusters and NGOs indicate/demonstrate lack of knowledge on cluster and multi-cluster tools, as well as coordination platforms/websites, (e. g. RASP, HR. Info, AR, etc) - have raised concerns on not receiving updates/info/guidance from national level (includes OCHA, clusters, and their respective country offices) [Source: AWG Survey, Nov. 2017; feedback from NGO partners and sub-national ICCGs; and observations about partner capacity/knowledge]

Capacity Answered: 17 Skipped: 8 *If not time at all, please explain why assessments are not prioritized within your cluster/organization: “the cluster does not seem to have prioritized needs, gap analysis, or information as the basis for anything. ” [Source: AWG Survey, Nov. 2017]

Focus areas and next steps for 2018 • Revised TOR • Calendar with assessment-related training opportunities • Facilitate development of common indicators database to inform multi-sector assessments • Map out and evaluate the recurrent assessment tools, frequency of data collection, timeline for analysis, products, and eventually have a set of endorsed AWG tools (joint analysis) • Bi-monthly product with assessment updates (e. g. available datasets, new training opportunities, guidance/info on new tools, update on recent assessments conducted, etc. ) • MCNA as a cluster-driven process developed and rolled out within the AWG structure • Support with the HNO process [Source: AWG Meeting Record, 16 Jan. 2018]

Linking challenges, opportunities and solutions

AWG Iraq Assessment Working Group Questions? Alexandra Lazau-Ratz Humanitarian Affairs Officer | OCHA Iraq Mob: +964 (0) 751 740 3572 | E-mail: lazau-ratz@un. org | Skype: alexandra. l. ratz Powered by