Coordinated Assessment and Information Management (CAIM) Training

Coordinated Assessment and Information Management (CAIM) Training

A specialized course on information management to support coordinated needs assessment and analysis for OCHA and operational partners.

The CAIM Training aims to upgrade the skills of OCHA and humanitarian actors with existing knowledge and skills in coordinated assessments and needs analysis.

It is continuously evolving and focusing on translating guidance, tools, field practices, innovative concepts and practical solutions to implement needs assessment life cycle.

This practical training helps field practitioners to take leadership and support role in coordinating, managing, planning and implementing needs assessments in the field.

Objectives

Reaction and Planned Action

After participation in the training, the participants will:

  • Join a pool of trained personnel willing to keep abreast of latest developments and contribute to the learning of others;
  • Express confidence in taking a leadership or support role in initiating, preparing and facilitating joint assessments such as Multi-cluster/sector Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA), harmonize assessments and contribution to the development and coordination of Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) or inter- sectoral joint analysis exercise.
  • Express confidence to facilitate coordination processes around designing, planning, data collection and analysis of need assessments, leading or providing support to coordinated assessment outputs.

Learning and Confidence

After completion of the CAIM Course, participants will:

  • Confidently establish coordination approaches and structures required to set up needs assessment and analysis in different context.
  • List and describe individual and organisational roles and responsibilities in the coordinated assessment processes and coordinate available resources;
  • Describe the key steps to delivering a fast, and high quality needs assessment, including how to approach, build consensus and coordinate partner activities, logistics and resources;
  • Outline the main steps to quickly and effectively initiate MIRA or joint assessments, harmonize assessments, coordinate secondary or primary data analysis, and lead the planning and coordinate implementation of data collection exercises;
  • Confidently implement needs assessment and analysis life cycle;
  • Apply need assessment methodologies, including use of severity, and reliability in data collection and analysis process;
  • Explain humanitarian caseload (population) definitions and apply basic estimation methodologies to local context;
  • Clarify how to design assessment methodologies, questionnaires and collect data using mobile data collection (such as Kobo);
  • Outline steps and describe basic techniques for secondary and primary data analysis;
  • Describe methods of analysis, focusing on a summary of results, comparison, interpretation, visualisation and mapping;
  • Outline the main steps to efficiently coordinate a Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), and highlight approaches to lead or contribute to the inter-sectoral/cluster analysis in different contexts;
  • Utilize information management tools and practice techniques which support data processing and data analysis;
  • Identify key information needs and formulate customized strategies and approaches to carry out joint analysis and prioritization of needs, and;
  • Explain and demonstrate how to develop coordinated assessment outputs and utilize them for humanitarian response planning and decision-making processes.

Application and Implementation

When CAIM graduates assume their function, they will:

  • Confidently assume a leadership or support role in the initiation, preparedness and facilitation of coordinated assessments;
  • Facilitate coordination processes around needs assessments, in particular, building consensus, agreeing on standard methodologies and tools and putting in place predictable needs assessment mechanism;
  • Facilitate high-quality joint data collection, management and analysis;
  • Efficiently ensure the development and dissemination of situation analysis, assessment reports and HNOs;
  • Effectively contribute to country level coordinated assessment preparedness activities;
  • Facilitate awareness and capacity building activities on coordinated assessments;
  • Implement coordinated assessments outputs to form the basis for Humanitarian Response Plans (HRP) and Flash Appeals.

Participation

25 participants will be selected on basis of the following criteria:

  • Conceptual knowledge and skills in needs assessment and analysis;
  • Practical experience in needs assessment and analysis;
  • Excellent oral and written English.

More information please refer to CAIM-Applicant Eligibility Criteria 2018

Methodology and Resources

First phase: online learning activities

  • Webinars
  • Pre-course learning sessions with the facilitation team
  • Key concepts of the needs assessment life cycle

Second phase: face-to-face course

  • Practical lessons based on different contexts
  • Field-based scenarios with useful tips
  • Techniques and tools for needs assessments and analysis in humanitarian crisis
  • Simulated journey through needs assessment life cycle
  • Participatory approaches using facilitated discussions
  • Group work, desktop exercises
  • Presentations in plenary
  • Roleplay

Administration

  • Residential
  • 5.5 days (Sunday to Friday)
  • No course fee
  • Accommodation and meals covered by organizers
  • Sending organizations/office responsible for travel costs and applicable allowances

Registration