Author: / Tanya Strongman
Approved by: / David Wightwick
Approved Date: / February 18, 2015 / Review Date: / February 17, 2016
Factors for Defining Categorization
Introduction
This document is to be used as a reference when determining if a humanitarian crisis requires a Save the Children response. It should be read in conjunction with the categorization procedure, and referred to when preparing the categorization announcement.
The factors in the table are not exhaustive and are only a guide; however the table should help paint a picture of the scale and severity of the crisis, the likely humanitarian impact and the level of response that might be required by Save the Children.
It is important to consider these factors collectively rather than individually. The way the factors interact is critical; for example, numbers affected may be high but so might be government capacity. There may be a low death rate linked to communicable diseases but our response may have to be large in order to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
Gather as much information as you can about each of these different factors. There will be gaps in your information and the picture will be far from complete in those first few hours/days; however, the important thing is that the Country Office staff, as those closest to the crisis, are able to provide a sound recommendation to the Emergency Management Group/Regional Emergency Management Group.
The sources of information that you draw upon and that can be regarded as ‘reliable’ will vary from country to country and from situation to situation. However, here are a few suggestions:
- Our own staff or partners in the affected area
- UNOCHA or other UN sources
- Other NGOs/INGOs
- Media (local and international, main stream and social media)
- Government
Remember to triangulate – never rely solely on one source.
Factors for Categorization / Extraordinary (Cat 1) / Large (Cat 2) / Medium (Cat 3) / Small (Cat 4)Nature and scale of the crisis / Numbers affected:
Significant population size affected and/or >1 million children affected. / Significant population size affected and/or >100,000 children affected. / >10,000 children affected. / >1,000 children affected.
Geographic scale:
National, cross-border or multi country crisis; unlikely to be localized.
Anywhere globally. / Potentially:
National or cross-border crisis; unlikely to be localized.
Anywhere globally. / Usually:
Limited geographical area affected, rather than entire country.
Generally anywhere in the country. / Usually:
Localized crisis.
Generally current or adjacent areas of operation.
Evolution:
Likelihood of crises worsening and evolving; possibly unpredictable development of crisis. / On-going evolution of crisis likely; possibly unpredictable development of crisis. / Reasonably predictable caseload, some increase possible. / Defined caseload, unlikely to increase significantly.
Displacement:
Massive movement of population expected with destabilizing potential. / On-going instability and unpredictability- large scale population movement likely. / Probable significant displacement dependent on nature of crisis. / Probable displacement dependent on nature of crisis.
International humanitarian system response:
All clusters activated, IASC level 3, Flash appeal launched. / Most clusters activated, flash appeal launched. / Two or more clusters/coordination mechanisms activated. / No clusters/coordination mechanisms activated.
Impact on basic services / Health:
Severely compromised health services; significant damage to infrastructure; high risk of communicable diseaseoutbreak. / Severely compromised health services; significant damage to infrastructure; risk of communicable disease outbreak. / Likely disruption to health services confined to worst affected areas; partial damage to infrastructure; possible risk of communicable disease outbreak. / Limited disruption to health services and minimal damage to infrastructure; likely to be very localized; low risk of communicable diseaseoutbreak.
Water:
Sever disruption of supply; significant damage to large scale infrastructure. / Disruption of supply; significant damage to infrastructure. / Likely disruption of supply; some damage to infrastructure. / Localized disruption of supply probably; possible damage to community based infrastructure.
Food security & nutrition:
Significant risk of food insecurity and prevalence of malnutrition. / Significant risk of food insecurity and likelihood of malnutrition. / Significant risk of food insecurity in affected areas. / Probable short term and localized food insecurity.
Education:
Poor or no access to schools; substantial damage to school infrastructure. / Poor or no access to schools; damage to school infrastructure. / Poor or no access to schools; some damage to school infrastructure. / Short term disruption to school access; minor school infrastructure damage.
Protection:
High risk of separated and unaccompanied children; high probability of other potential protection risks for children. / Risk of separated and unaccompanied children; children likely facing other potential protection risks. / Possible risk of separated and unaccompanied children; likely children facing other potential protection risks. / Unlikely a risk of separated and unaccompanied children; possibility for other potential protection risks.
Government/local response capacity / Government capacity:
Very low, non-existent or overwhelmed response capacity at Government / local authority level (country(ies) affected by a chronic institutional crisis). / Very low, non-existent or overwhelmed response capacity at Government / local authority level (country affected by a chronic institutional crisis). / Insufficient and limited government capacity to respond and coordinate response. / Limited to high government capacity to respond and coordinate response.
Government willingness:
Possible delay of Government(s) to declare state of emergency or other coordination challenges.
Complex emergencies- political challenges in dealing with legitimate authorities and armed actors.
Government may be acting against the interests of the worst affected population to some extent. / Possible delay of the Government(s) to declare state of emergency or other coordination challenges.
Complex emergencies- political challenges in dealing with legitimate authorities and armed actors.
Government may be acting against the interests of the worst affected population to some extent. / Likely support and willingness of Government for engagement by NGOs. / Likely support and willingness for Government for engagement by NGOs.
Accessibility to areas affected / Security
Potentially highly insecure
security situation. / Some restrictions to movements due to security conditions. / Permissible security. / Permissible security.
Access:
Serious movement restrictions due to insecurity or bad/non-existent infrastructure. / Some restrictions to movements due to poor transport conditions/ security. / General infrastructure in acceptable condition and / or easy access to target locations. / General infrastructure in acceptable condition and / or easy access to target locations.
Markets:
Local markets collapsed / Local market exists but supplies/affordability are a concern. / Local market exists but supplies/affordability are a concern. / Supplies are available at country level.
Supplies:
Non-availability of basic commodities. / Limited availability of basic commodities. / Most supplies available nationally. / All basic supplies available nationally.
SC presence in country / Minimum expectations:
Assessment and response anywhere where > 100,000 children affected- regardless of SC presence. / Assessment and response anywhere where > 100,000 children affected- regardless of SC presence. / Assessment and/or response when 10,000 children affected anywhere in a country where we have SC operational presence. / Assessment and/or response when there are 1,000 children affected in or adjacent to current SC operational areas within a country.
Politics, profile and potential funding / Global :
The crisis is highly politically sensitive and has potential to trigger geo-political implications. / National or regional political implications; some international involvement. / National political implications, unlikely to spread beyond national boundaries- or at most relations with a 2nd country. / No major political implications; national at most.
Media and public interest:
Very high level media and public attention, likely to be sustained for over 2 weeks. / High level of media interest and public attention or potential to drive media interest. / There is some media and public attention to the crisis but unlikely to be sustained without significant investment. / No strong media or public attention for the crisis.
Voluntary fundraising:
Massive public fundraising potential. / Large public fundraising potential. / Some public fundraising potential. / Limited public fundraising potential.
Institutional fundraising:
Significant funds available and strong donor attention to the crises; immediate, recovery and longer term funding expected. / Donors are following the crisis and are expected to release funds; immediate, recovery and longer term funding expected. / Donors are following the crisis and are expected to release funds for immediate and possibly recovery phase. / Low interest from donors.
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