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Steps 7 and 8: Gap and market analysis
Before starting Step 7, you should have…
o
investigated and confirmed the high-priority needs of households in each target group and their ideas and
preferences for humanitarian assistance;
o
outlined household economic profiles, seasonal factors and constraints of their access to the critical market;
Before starting Step 8, you should have…
o
explored how the crisis has affected actors in the system, and how they are responding;
o
consulted market actors and key informants on possible market-support actions;
o
completed the baseline and emergency-affected maps and a seasonal calendar for the market system;
o
completed the gap-analysis strand.
Objectives of Step 7 (Most of this should have been done before starting EMMA)
Calculate the magnitude of the emergency response required, based on a good-enough estimate of the total
gap that the target population is facing.
Analyse how important the gaps are within the economic profiles of different target groups, and factor in
their preferences for the form of assistance offered.
Draw conclusions about any key factors influencing different target groups’ access to the market system.
Objectives of Step 8
Analyse availability and the principal supply and/or demand constraints in the market system. Assess market
integration, competitiveness and power relations.
Analyse and estimate the market system’s existing or potential capacity to contribute to the required
emergency response calculated in Step 7.
Identify plausible options for indirect market-system support for consideration in Step 9.
Answer, and draw conclusions about, the key analytical questions defined in Step 3.
Key Outputs of Step 7
A simple report table, Box 1.7 (see ANNEX Step 1) which summarizes the most essential details and
characteristics of each of the target groups – their numbers, locations, income profile.
A more detailed matrix Box 7.3 (see ANNEX Step 7) which quantifies the priority needs for each target group,
and shows the total gap estimated for the target population.
Information about the
likely duration of gaps, the access constraints, and the preferences expressed by
different target groups about the form of assistance they need.
Notes to record the assumptions made in estimating these numbers, and highlighting any significant risks (e.g.
a delay in expected assistance from another agency).
Key Outputs of Step 8
How it was before: an assessment of the market system’s baseline capacity and performance.
What has happened: findings about the impact of the emergency on the market system; and in particular an
analysis of supply-and-demand constraints in the emergency-affected situation.
How it is likely to perform in the future: an appraisal of the system’s capacity and potential to contribute to
the emergency response.
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Market-support options: a list of possible emergency market-support options (to reinforce local capacity to
contribute to humanitarian response), for consideration in Step 9.
Key Activities in Step 7
Compile all available qualitative and quantitative information about priority needs,
preferences, and access
constraints (from background research, emergency needs assessments, interview records, and field notes).
Draw conclusions about target groups’ priority needs, access constraints, and preferences.
Estimate the total gap that the target population faces including activities of other agencies/ government.
Key Activities in Step 8 and Outline of the Analytical Process
The essential aim of Step 8 is to assess whether the market system could contribute usefully and reliably to
the emergency response. If the answer is ‘Yes’, then Step 8 also aims to estimate its capacity to contribute to
meeting the gap, and identify any support opportunities that could restore or increase this capacity.
The analytical process is
A: Baseline analysis (EMMATK Sec8.3)
What was the market system’s capacity and performance before the emergency?
Assessment of the market system’s prior capacity and performance
Analysis of data on volumes of production and trade, market integration, competition, and conduct
B: Emergency/ Impact analysis (EMMATK Sec8.4)
What has happened to the market system in the emergency situation? How has the market system changed?
Exploration of the impact of the emergency
Comparisons of baseline and emergency situations (trade volumes, prices, integration, and conduct)
C: Future forecast (EMMATK Sec8.5)
How well is the system likely to contribute to emergency response in future?
Estimates of the market system’s capacity to contribute to emergency response
D: Identification of market-support options (EMMATK Sec8.6)
What options exist for restoring/ strengthening the market system’s capabilities?
Identification of direct and indirect response options and their feasibility
Additional Supporting Information:
1.
Keep in mind Sphere Standards and Survival and Livelihood thresholds (EMMATKp131) and any national and/
or regional standards if they apply and are appropriate
Sphere standards or locally-recognized guidelines should be considered when calculating the household gap for
goods/services. For example use Sphere standards indicators to determine the amount of corrugated iron
sheeting needed to be supplied by the market for the target population, the quantity of water required per
person from a water vendor, or staple food quantities required per household, etc. See ANNEX Step 8 for an
example of water.
2.
What is a ‘useful and reliable’ response contribution?
A market system is capable of contributing to the emergency response if, without causing harmful changes in
prices or availability for others, it can provide:
a sufficient and reasonably priced supply of the critical food, items, or services directly to the target
population – assuming that the latter has access and purchasing power (e.g. cash, vouchers);
a reliable and reasonably priced source of the critical food, items, or services for local procurement by
humanitarian agencies; or
a reliable outlet (i.e. employers, buyers) and fair price for target populations’ labour or produce – and thus a
critical source of income.