Community update: MEAL in East Africa (May 2019): Sphere launch, CHS verification, ROAP guidance

Andrew Nzimbi
Andrew Nzimbi
Andrew Nzimbi works as an independent consultant in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya, but works internationally.
Andrew is an independent consultant with a passion for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL). He has 14 years of experience in the Humanitarian and Development Sectors, covering 10 African Countries and Yemen. Andrew supports INGOs and other stakeholders involved in humanitarian and development work, to solve their MEAL needs and improve their quality of programming. He helps set up MEAL systems; facilitates MEAL trainings and conferences; conducts assessments, reviews and evaluations and; facilitates strategic planning. His expertise targets diverse audiences. Andrew holds a Master Degree in Project Planning and Management and a Bachelor Degree in Community Development.
Community updates provide brief highlights from expert practitioners about what they see as the key developments in a specific area, what resources they would recommend, and what to look out for in the coming months.

Key developments in the area of MEAL in East Africa

East Africa launch of the 2018 Sphere Handbook

The launch of the 2018 Sphere Handbook was held in Nairobi, in March this year. The Sphere Handbook is an aspirational document which sets out guidance for achieving minimum standards for response. It is also a practical tool developed by field practitioners, for field use. In addition, Sphere has just released an updated version of its comprehensive training pack to support humanitarian professionals wishing to learn more about Sphere and humanitarian standards, or those wishing to deliver training themselves.

Updates on the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) Verification Scheme

The CHS sets out nine commitments which actors engaged in humanitarian response should follow to improve quality and effectiveness of their response, putting the community at the center of response. The CHS is a voluntary and measurable standard – its application can be objectively assessed, to measure the extent to which agencies have successfully applied the CHS requirements (also known as the "verification scheme"). The recently completed updates to the verification scheme include a review of the self-assessment and peer review tools and the roll-out of a new CHS Alignment Statement.

Facilitator's Guide for Inter-Sector Response Options Analysis & Planning (ROAP)

This new guide, developed by Save The Children UK, is intended to ensure a “structured sector and inter-sector decision-making process,” which brings together and draws on the information generated through different needs and operational environment assessments. The ROAP aims to facilitate the selection of appropriate, operationally feasible, and cost-efficient response options. It considers in-kind transfers, direct service delivery, vouchers, cash transfers, and combinations of those.

Recommended resources

2018 Sphere Handbook

CHS Verification Scheme

Response Options Analysis & Planning (ROAP)

Keep an eye out for...

This week, the State of the Humanitarian System Report will be launched in Nairobi with a panel discussion on May 15 at World Vision's office. You can find more information at the ALNAP event page or register directly with World Vision.
PHAP community updates are written by members of the association and other practitioners in their personal capacity. The views expressed belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of PHAP or any other organizations with which the author is associated.