---
title: "Perceived Needs Indicators"
slug: "perceived-needs-indicators"
updated: 2025-10-06T11:57:24Z
published: 2025-10-06T11:57:24Z
canonical: "vamresources.manuals.wfp.org/perceived-needs-indicators"
---

> ## 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.

# Perceived Needs Indicators

Perceived needs are perception-based indicators used to understand how a population perceives and prioritizes unmet needs. The indicators measure whether households believe that they have a “serious problem” with respect to a variety of needs.

Mostly used in emergency settings, the indicators are based on the Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale ([HESPER](http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44643/9789241548236_eng.pdf;jsessionid=F474D98960F6941737756FF342CFEC34?sequence=1)).

Please find below the resources that will help you in computing and interpreting the perceived needs indicators:

- A PowerPoint presentation available in [English](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000157225/download/), that can be used during the training of enumerators and RAM staff.
- The [survey module](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000121342/download/) required for perceived needs indicator can be found here.
- The [XLS form](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000134354/download/) for the perceived needs module extracted from the Survey Designer to help simplify the authoring of forms in Excel. The XLS form can be generated directly through the [WFP Survey Designer](https://www.surveydesigner.vam.wfp.org/design/survey).
- Scripts for [SPSS](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/blob/main/Indicators/Perceived-needs/Perceived-needs-indicator.sps), [STATA](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/main/Indicators/Perceived-needs/Perceived-needs-indicator.do), and R to analyse perceived needs indicators are available on [Github](https://github.com/WFP-VAM/RAMResourcesScripts/tree/main/Indicators/Perceived-needs).
- The [ENA Guidance](https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000074197/download/?_ga=2.52661224.1309440646.1636901893-2044791098.1615805980&_gac=1.125993343.1636651670.CjwKCAiAm7OMBhAQEiwArvGi3IQFKT2A_Ym9n3Kb0PLEdWDm_3eT2A4tAcyvBoy5vyXKdFrmSNgW0RoCCEQQAvD_BwE) describes how perceived needs indicators are used and analysed in essential needs analysis. A detailed description of the indicator can be found on p.29.

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