Annex 2: Guiding Principles Principle 1: Building upon previous experiences - the ethical considerations applicable to humanitarian assessments Considering the potential negative impact of assessments Child Participation Dealing with sensitive data Child participation in assessments is Data on sensitive issues needs to guarantee confidentiality important, and should take place if it’s of the respondent meaningful & safe to do so Certain assessment methodologies are thus unsuitable to collect sensitive information (f. ex. Focus Group Discussions) Ensuring that you are “context More appropriate methods: key informant interviews appropriate” Only interviewers with adequate CP training should ask sensitive Speaking to local people or questions around topics such as sexual violence and the colleagues with in-depth knowledge existence of children working or used by armed groups is important to understand about sensitive and politicized issues This will help deciding on what questions to include and on adapting language & tools 1.2. When carrying out an assessment is either unnecessary or inappropriate When decisions have already been taken and When the results of the assessment will be the assessment results will have no relevance incorrect or biased (f. ex. when interviewees don’t feel secure enough to tell the truth) When no more additional information is required When a population feels over-assessed and possibly hostile to assessments When the assessment puts data collectors or interviewees in harmful situations 1.3. Urgent Action & Commitment to follow-up action as necessary A commitment from actors carrying out an An effective urgent action procedure will look like a assessment to respond to urgent action is referral pathway which can be easily followed by necessary assessment teams in the field Actors must ensure to respond appropriately when a child’s life and/or wellbeing is in immediate danger Urgent action is important and should be highlighted as a necessary part of any assessment that has CP components 1.4. Other applicable principles It is important not to raise false expectations with communities when carrying out an assessment by being clear about its objectives Assessments should identify ways to support existing community-coping mechanisms which don’t violate basic rights or harm children Principle 2: Integration is a two-way street The IASC Transformative Agenda calls for a greater evidence-based, strategic and prioritized humanitarian response. To facilitate this, it proposes stronger coordination around the HPC, starting with needs assessments and analysis.
Annex 2: Guiding Principles Principle 1: Building upon previous experiences - the ethical considerations applicable to humanitarian assessments Considering the potential negative impact of assessments Child Participation Child participation in assessments is important, and should take place if it’s meaningful & safe to do so Ensuring that you are “context appropriate” Speaking to local people or colleagues with in-depth knowledge is important to understand about sensitive and politicized issues This will help deciding on what questions to include and on adapting language & tools Dealing with sensitive data Data on sensitive issues needs to guarantee confidentiality of the respondent Certain assessment methodologies are thus unsuitable to collect sensitive information (f. ex. Focus Group Discussions) More appropriate methods: key informant interviews Only interviewers with adequate CP training should ask sensitive questions around topics such as sexual violence and the existence of children working or used by armed groups 1.2. When carrying out an assessment is either unnecessary or inappropriate When decisions have already been taken and the assessment results will have no relevance When no more additional information is required When the assessment puts data collectors or interviewees in harmful situations When the results of the assessment will be incorrect or biased (f. ex. when interviewees don’t feel secure enough to tell the truth) When a population feels over-assessed and possibly hostile to assessments 1.3. Urgent Action & Commitment to follow-up action as necessary A commitment from actors carrying out an assessment to respond to urgent action is necessary Actors must ensure to respond appropriately when a child’s life and/or wellbeing is in immediate danger Urgent action is important and should be highlighted as a necessary part of any assessment that has CP components An effective urgent action procedure will look like a referral pathway which can be easily followed by assessment teams in the field 1.4. Other applicable principles It is important not to raise false expectations with communities when carrying out an assessment by being clear about its objectives Assessments should identify ways to support existing community-coping mechanisms which don’t violate basic rights or harm children Principle 2: Integration is a two-way street The IASC Transformative Agenda calls for a greater evidence-based, strategic and prioritized humanitarian response. To facilitate this, it proposes stronger coordination around the HPC, starting with needs assessments and analysis.
Guidelines-on-Integration-of-CP-into-Multi-sectorial-Assessments_03-2015.docx