SMART

Standardized Monitoring andAssessment of Relief and Transitions

What is SMART?

Interagency global initiative of donors, humanitarian organizations, academia

Multi-partner network, mechanism for “shared approach” & continued evolvement of agenda, priorities

Actionable Activities – based on SMART Workshop 2002, G-8

Background

Initiated by USAID, State/PRM, CIDA to meet donor reporting needs using benchmark indicators

Crude Mortality Rate (CMR) and nutritional status of children under five (USAID humanitarian goal indicators selected in 1999)

Background…

“Most vital, basic public health indicators of the severity of a humanitarian crisis”, July 02 SMART Workshop

Monitoring of the total relief response – is the system meeting needs?

Workshop summary at www.smartindicators.org

SMART Goal

How do we determine needs (based on acute risk to life/health), and be more accountable and effective?

Institutionalize evidence-based policy making and reporting on humanitarian and transition situations

SMART Priority Issues

Standardize methodology for assessing nutritional status, mortality rate, with food security context

Establish comprehensive, collaborative systems to ensure reliable data for making policy/ program decisions, and reporting

SMART will provide:

Standardized methodology for assessment, reporting Key nutritional, health, mortality and food security data

for rational decision making Quick access to reliable data (ranked - based on

source credibility, methodology) Evidence-based trends analysis and impact studies Technical support to ensure standardized, quality data Network - continued research, consensus building on

additional indicators, activities

SMART organization

Network of leading experts, practitioners, donors

Expert Panels and Technical Advisory Groups (TAG) organized on specific activities

Concept

We are part of the solution

No single organization has all the resources

brings the pieces together The “shared

approach”…

SMART Partners

Donors Universities, research institutes UN/International organizations PVOs/NGOs Local governments Individual experts

Implementing the concept…

Actionable Activities

SMART

TrainingExpert Panel

Research Database

Methodology

Expert Panel

VulnerabilityFood security

Operations Research

DatabaseCE-DAT

Technical Support

MethodologyNutrition

CMRFood Security

SMART

SMART Methodology

Nutritional StatusMortality Rate Food Security

CDC

SCF/UK

CRED

UNICEF

SMART Methodology: Purpose

Purpose: To determine needs, monitor and report on progress and trends using standardized data collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting

Package: Survey protocol/manual, windows-based analytical software

SMART Methodology: Audience Audience: All humanitarian

organizations, SMART partners Level of difficulty: Targeted to

PVOs/NGOs (with technical training) “ The methodology should be

technically sound and simple, that is do-able by our partners, in particular PVOs/NGOs. This should be the balance.” Ralte, July 23, 2003

SMART Version 1 – Elements Iterative – upgraded based on research Integrated – nutritional status, mortality rate,

food security Primer – basic essential methodology Time element – do-able, critical in acute

versus chronic Linkages – electronic manual with

hyperlinks to references – layering of guidelines

SMART Version 1 - Approach

Based on anthropometry (nutritional status assessment), with the most critical components of mortality (CMR) & food security (HEA lite) integrated

Based on viable best-practice methodologies until further research determines change

SMART Methodology: Work Plan Expert Panel Meeting: July 13-15, 2004 Draft Manual by end August Review: EP participants & others Pilot-test: country? Timing? TAG: before end 2004 (NYC) Apply in @6 selected countries over 3 years

(add 2 countries per year) Survey every six months and/or combine

with surveillance

Expert Panel

VulnerabilityFood security

Operations Research

DatabaseCE-DAT

Technical Support

MethodologyNutrition

CMRFood Security

SMART

Training Technical Support

ComprehensiveSustainable

Graduate degree Short certification course

Long-distance

Tulane University

& others

Technical Support

Training – integrated to organization activities; tailored to needs

Quick access to leading experts Listserve Web-based forum Virtual library

Expert Panel

VulnerabilityFood security

Operations Research

DatabaseCE-DAT

Technical Support

MethodologyNutrition

CMRFood Security

SMART

ComplexEmergencies

Database (CE-DAT)Standardized

ValidatedRankedSourced

Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED)

CE-DAT

Establish peer-reviewed methodology for determining mortality baseline

Establish preliminary mortality baseline for 29 countries; in-depth profile of @8 priority countries

Trend analysis on mortality, morbidity, nutritional status in priority countries

Linkages: existing conflict-related databases; DHS and MICS surveys

TAGs: November 2003, July 2004

Expert Panel

VulnerabilityFood security

Operations Research

DatabaseCE-DAT

Technical Support

MethodologyNutrition

CMRFood Security

SMART

Research HEA “lite”

Other indicators, e.g., HIV/AIDS

CDC

Universities

Work in progress…

Expert Panel

VulnerabilityFood security

Operations Research

DatabaseCE-DAT

Technical Support

MethodologyNutrition

CMRFood Security

SMART

Expert Panel Vulnerability assessmentFood security indicators

DFID

USAID

Work in progress….

G-8 Action Plan

“The G-8 will support further activities to improve needs assessment and monitoring of famine and food security. This will include the establishment of a multi-partner experts’ panel to review standards of practice for vulnerability assessments and food security, and the development of online information systems to disseminate information on vulnerable areas, needs assessments, and the impact of assistance operations.”

Thank you…

“Let’s all work together now and keep focused on why we are here. It is not about ourselves, but our commitment to helping those who need us. It is about saving lives.”

SMART July 23, 2002