This study, commissioned under the WFP SENAC project,
explores the links and disconnects between needs assessment
and decision-making (WFP and other) in response to food
crises. It asks whether emergency needs assessments (ENA)
are providing the analysis required for timely, appropriate,
proportionate and effective responses to food crises – and
considers the extent to which they actually inform
organisational response decisions.
The study is based on four in-depth case studies each involving different kinds of food
crisis, as well as other ‘reference’ cases and interviews
conducted with WFP, donor and partner agency staff.
A broad view is taken of ‘emergency needs assessment’, which
is understood to include all data gathering and analysis
designed to determine the existence, nature and causes of a
food crisis (actual or potential); the need for intervention to
protect life, health, nutrition and livelihoods; and the
appropriate form of such interventions.
