Financial Contribution to ACAPS (Assessment Capacities Project) 2017-2019

In a humanitarian crisis, making decisions is a challenge. The situation is constantly changing and information is scarce. Humanitarian actors must be able to zoom in on important details as well as see the big picture, fast.

Needs-driven humanitarian assistance must be based on a clear understanding of the needs of the affected population and based on evidence. Despite of the importance of needs assessments, no commonly accepted methodology exists up to now. In 2009, ACAPS was established to fill this gap. Its goal is to develop a convincing and innovative methodology for needs assessments.

The mission of ACAPS is to contribute towards a shared situation awareness within the humanitarian community, thereby enabling effective, evidence-based humanitarian decision-making.

The goal of this phase is to contribute to the enhancement of the resilience of communities affected by conflict and disasters through timely and appropriate action in more and more complex humanitarian contexts. It will aim at developing a dialogue / a think-tank in Geneva composed of ACAPS, Sphere, SCHR (Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response) and HAP (Humanitarian Accountability Partnership), looking at, among others, the innovation potential of the Humanitarian Geneva.

• Lives that may otherwise have been threatened or lost will be protected and saved;
• Resources will be effectively used through more timely and better targeted interventions that prevent crises from escalating;
• Communities will be progressively more resilient through the provision of more appropriate support;
• Humanitarian responders will be better able to work together on assessing and analysing the needs of affected populations;
• Humanitarian work will be more accountable.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

Best practices and innovative approaches will be shared with ACAPS and SDC/HA staff. This will also contribute to a better coordination in needs assessments and emergency response within the whole humanitarian system. 

ACAPS will work and advance the following workstreams:

• Making sense: Being a leading provider of high quality independent needs analysis, and setting standards for analysis;
• Innovation: Learning through R&D, developing tools for assessment and analysis that build capacity across the sector;
• Using evidence: Making evidence a more significant part of decision-making;
• Working together: Strengthening collaboration and partnerships that will build a high-quality shared evidence base, and analysis.

Principaux résultats antérieurs:   ACAPS has entered in several forms of partnership with various organizations, among them UNHCR, the START Network, UNDP BCPR (Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery), and UNICEF.

Phase 4 01.01.2017 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)