UNHCR Toolkit for Participatory Assessment: Practical Guide

Refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, and stateless people must be at the centre of decision-making in all aspects concerning their protection and well-being. Humanitarian respondents must gain a deep understanding of the overall situation to define strategies of intervention. It is therefore essential to consult individuals directly on their risks, needs, and their capacities to address their situation and to obtain their suggestions on solutions to address their concerns.
UNHCR has implemented Participatory Assessments (hereinafter PAs) for many years as a core approach to effectively consult with forcibly displaced and stateless people, and to design programmes that are informed by the expressed priorities of people of different ages, genders and diverse characteristics. This new PA Toolkit is intended:
i. To revalidate the process of PA as a key programmatic tool and to support a multi-functional team (hereinafter MFT) in UNHCR operations in planning, implementing, systematizing, and visualising information received through PA.
ii. To add an innovative digitalised approach to PAs, with detailed instructions on the use of dedicated digital tools to systemize PA findings more swiftly, to harmonize data analysis, and to store and to visualise the PA results.
iii. To ultimately enhance the effective use of the PA results in strategic planning; in adjusting UNHCR programs in line with the feedback received by the engaged individuals, groups, and communities; in reporting on specific Core Outcome and Core Output indicators;2 and in facilitating the feedback to communities on the results of the PA and the actions that UNHCR will undertake based on these results.