Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework part of the HPC 2021 package - Update from Workstream 5 (September 2020)
Discussions on the humanitarian programme cycle and parallel work under the Grand Bargain have highlighted the criticality of stronger joint needs assessments and analysis as a pre-condition to credible and well-funded Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs). While other factors come into play, methodologically sound and holistic needs assessments are essential for informed decision making.
The 2021 Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) package was approved by the IASC Operational Policy and Advocacy Group (OPAG) on 5 August 2020, comprising the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and HRP templates and complementary guidance on implementation, including the guidance to apply the Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework (JIAF). The JIAF was elaborated to support a broader contextual and intersectoral analysis that affords a depth of understanding of how sectoral needs interact and evolve. The framework and approach facilitate a common understanding of needs that is people-centered and intersectoral, inclusive of underlying vulnerabilities and causal factors.
The framework was agreed upon by agencies and global clusters as part of the HPC Steering Group (and endorsed by the OPAG) and is being used fully for the HNOs for the first time this year, after a partial application last year. OCHA and partners are providing remote technical support in applying the JIAF.
The evidence base to inform this analysis requires an ability to effectively compile, process store and share qualitative data and information. The Data Entry and Exploration Platform (DEEP) is an open-source inter-agency initiative offering a structured way to do so for use in humanitarian and development needs analysis, while encouraging collaboration and transparency.
Use of the DEEP has further expanded this year through the Global Information Management, Assessment and Analysis Cell (GIMAC) which aims to coordinate, structure, collate, manage and analyze COVID-19 related information, and to provide technical support and services to prioritized countries and global decision making based on request. GIMAC reports to the IASC OPAG and has, to date, supported Ethiopia and Iraq on secondary data analysis which will inform the 2021 HPC. Through OFDA funding DEEP will also be used by GIMAC to produce secondary data analysis reports for 10 countries, generating monthly key findings for a period of seven months.