Effective planning is the foundation of a successful assessment. The planning phase ensures that all preparatory steps are taken, resources are allocated, and the assessment is designed to produce actionable results. Each element in this phase builds upon the previous, creating a logical flow from understanding the context to preparing for data collection and analysis. In this section, you can find reference materials needed to plan for a food security assessment – from conceptual frameworks to establish objectives, to examples and templates to organize a budget or determine the sampling strategy.
Key Steps in the Planning Phase
Secondary Data Review: Begin by reviewing existing information to understand the context, identify knowledge gaps, and inform the assessment design.
Assessment Calendar: Schedule key activities and milestones to ensure timely completion and coordination with partners.
Assessment Budgets: Develop a comprehensive budget covering all planned activities, staff, logistics, and contingencies.
Assessment Terms of Reference (TOR): Develop a clear TOR to define the assessment’s objectives, scope, methodology, roles, and deliverables.
Terms of References (TORs) for Short-Term Staff: Prepare TORs for any short-term staff required, ensuring roles and responsibilities are clearly outlined.
Analysis Plan: Design an analysis plan specifying key questions, indicators, data sources, and analytical methods.
Sampling: Define the sampling approach to ensure representativeness and statistical validity at the level determined in the analysis plan.
Assessment Timeline: Create a detailed timeline for all assessment phases, ensuring logical sequencing and coordination of activities.
RAM Information Management Ecosystem: Decide how data and information will be managed, stored, and shared throughout the assessment process.