Assessing humanitarian needs is a process of systematically gathering and analyzing information from individuals, families, or communities about their needs or the discrepancies between their current living conditions and their expectations or desires. The most common methods of such assessment include community meetings, surveys, document analysis, observation, community mapping, focus groups, and in-depth interviews.
To implement their projects, the Stabilization Support Services team recently organized a survey to identify the primary humanitarian needs of residents, including IDPs, in 9 oblasts. These are Dnipropetrovska, Kharkivska, Khersonska, Mykolaivska, Odeska, Sumska, Zaporizka, Chernihivska, and Donetska oblasts. According to Ihor Shcherbakov, the monitoring and evaluation manager, conducting this study in the form of an online survey will enable the SSS Foundation team to ascertain people’s opinions regarding their humanitarian needs quickly. The processed results will assist in the effective implementation of current projects and the creation of new ones.
“The questionnaire is divided into four sections: creating a demographic profile of the respondent, assessing humanitarian aid needs, determining the level of awareness of humanitarian organizations, and channels for obtaining information about humanitarian aid. This way, we will understand the basic needs of the respondents, their satisfaction with the aid they have already received, and their preferences regarding the form of future aid,” said Ihor Shcherbakov.
He also added that the study conducted by the Foundation may later be useful to other charitable and civil society organizations working in the humanitarian sector. According to him, this will reduce instances where multiple donors provide the same assistance to people and will promote further coordination among foundation workers.
“Thanks to the conducted study, we will be able to identify the true needs of potential aid recipients and form the necessary kit contents according to the requests of the affected population. We aim for the assistance to be genuinely useful and to improve people’s living conditions,” emphasized Yuliya Suchok, the project manager for the Provision of Lifesaving Winterization, NFI, and Shelter Support to Conflict Affected Populations in Ukraine project.
She also mentioned that, in addition to repairing buildings in Khersonska and Zaporizka oblasts, the project plans to distribute 550 non-food item (NFI) kits.
The Provision of Lifesaving Winterization, NFI, and Shelter Support to Conflict Affected Populations in Ukraine project is being implemented by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in partnership with the international humanitarian organization CARE, with the support of NACHBAR IN NOT.
Photo: Distribution of rapid repair kits, Chernihivska Oblast, 2023.