---
title: "Assessment Timeline"
slug: "assessment-timeline"
updated: 2025-10-15T08:28:48Z
published: 2025-10-15T08:28:48Z
canonical: "vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/assessment-timeline"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Assessment Timeline

When planning a large-scale annual assessment, it is often useful to map out key activities into a timeline that illustrates the key phases, tasks, and milestones involved. The timeline is designed to support effective coordination between team members and external partners, resource allocation, and timely delivery of outputs.

**Purpose of the Assessment Timeline**

A clear assessment timeline helps ensure that all preparatory, implementation, and reporting activities are sequenced logically and completed on schedule. It supports:

- Coordination among internal and external stakeholders
- Timely mobilization of resources and staff
- Alignment with seasonal and programmatic needs
- Transparent tracking of progress and deliverables

**Example Assessment Timeline**

Depending on the size of the assessment, main phases and tasks can include:

**Preparatory Phase**

- Develop the [TOR](https://vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/docs/objective-tors)
- Summarising lessons learnt from last year’s exercise
- Contracting partners and third-party service providers
- Staff recruitment and enumerator selection
- Tool revision and endorsement
- Sampling design and endorsement
- Official agreements and kick-off meetings
- Procurement of equipment (e.g., tablets)

**Training and Field Deployment Planning**

- Training of trainers (TOT)
- Updating training materials and agendas
- Venue booking and logistics
- Enumerator recruitment and contracting
- Enumerator training
- Finalizing field implementation plans
- Set up [high frequency checks](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000161492/download/) as part of the data quality framework including field communication plan

**Data Collection and High Frequency Data Quality Checks**

- Field data collection
- Implement [daily data quality checks](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000161492/download/) with feedback to the field teams
- Monitoring visits
- Final dataset download and reporting

**Data Cleaning and Analysis**

- [Data cleaning and documentation](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000161492/download/)
- Computation of key indicators
- Preparation of results for IPC analysis

**IPC Analysis and Reporting**

- IPC analysis workshop and reporting
- Contribution to IPC communication products
- Final FSA report preparation and dissemination

**Resources**

- [The CFSVA Guideline](https://docs.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/manual_guide_proced/wfp203208.pdf?_ga=2.117572300.47231413.1759750173-409825564.1686817712) includes detailed guidance on planning, sequencing, and timing of large-scale assessments
- [Comprehensive assessment timeline](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000107973/download/) provides a practical overview of how a comprehensive timeline can look

## 

For more information, please contact the Assessments and Targeting Unit in HQ VAM at [global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org](mailto:global.assessmentandtargeting@wfp.org).