IN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS an initial quick response is essential and there is often scant time available for lengthy surveys, requiring a mostly qualitative rapid appraisal approach and investment in organizational capacity.
The approach should allow for gathering the perceptions of target beneficiaries to provide a basis for decision- makers in the design, targeting and implementation of policies, strategies and action programmes and interventions to protect and promote food security and agricultural production, and improve the nutritional status of women and men living in the affected area.
The objective of targeting during emergency interventions is to respond to the actual needs of the most vulnerable within the available resources in the most efficient manner, from a social and economic point of view. This four-step process should be conducted through representative consultative mechanisms with beneficiaries, stakeholders and others involved in the planning, distribution, forwarding, receiving and benefit of project inputs to select appropriate targeting mechanisms and identify potential risks and consequences for creating lasting direct benefits for recipients and to local governance.
FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP In 2003, FAO and WFP undertook a comprehensive food security and nutrition assessment across all districts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A key objective was to understand the factors and conditions affecting livelihoods and food security and nutritional vulnerability of the population - men, women and children. In addition to reviewing secondary data, the mission conducted a primary data collection and analysis exercise covering all districts in urban, camp and remote/rural locations. This involved extensive field visits, focus group discussions, pairwise comparison ranking, household observations, and interviews using a gender focus. Source: FAO, 2003c. |
TARGETING STEPS |
OBJECTIVE |
PRIORITIZATION |
Identifying the criteria on which specific areas, population groups and individual households are to be selected. |
IDENTIFICATION |
Developing screening tools (administrative, community or self-targeting mechanisms) to ensure that only those who meet the targeting criteria actually receive benefits. |
ALLOCATION |
Determining the quantity of goods and services to be provided to those in need to achieve the desired impact among pro- gramme beneficiaries. |
OPTIONS |
Choosing suitable intervention strategy and delivery options to reach the identified target population. |
Source: FAO, 2001b.