Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool

Summary

This video emphasizes the importance of local actors in humanitarian disaster response, highlighting the need for improved institutional and operational capacities. The Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool (ICAT), developed by the Asian Preparedness Partnership with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, helps organizations assess their compliance with humanitarian standards like the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS). By regularly using the tool, organizations can enhance their resilience, ensure effective response, and continuously improve their capacity to address disasters. The tool is adaptable, offering actionable insights to strengthen local response efforts and drive impactful capacity building.

Takeaways

• 😀 4.03 billion people were affected by disasters between 2000 and 2019, and the numbers are expected to rise due to climate change and population growth.
• 😀 Local actors are essential for immediate disaster response and need to be better prepared as disasters become more frequent.
• 😀 Capacity building for local organizations enhances their ability to respond effectively and improves community resilience.
• 😀 The Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool (ICAT) helps local organizations assess their humanitarian initiatives based on core principles like humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality.
• 😀 The CHS (Core Humanitarian Standard) outlines nine commitments that guide effective and accountable humanitarian action.
• 😀 The ICAT was developed by the Asian Preparedness Partnership with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help local organizations assess and improve their capacities.
• 😀 The tool is adaptable and can be tailored to local contexts, ensuring broader application of humanitarian interventions and CHS compliance.
• 😀 Completing the ICAT assessment as a team, including board members, leadership, and external stakeholders, provides valuable insights for improvement.
• 😀 The ICAT is not a one-time tool; it measures progress over time and allows organizations to track their improvement in humanitarian response efforts.
• 😀 Results from the ICAT are scored on a scale from 1 to 5, helping organizations prioritize capacity-building interventions based on their scores.
• 😀 The ICAT tool can be accessed online or downloaded for manual use, making it easy for organizations to complete and track their development.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool (ICAT)?

The purpose of the ICAT is to help local humanitarian organizations assess and improve their institutional and operational capacities, ensuring that their work complies with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality.

How does the ICAT support local organizations in disaster response?

The ICAT supports local organizations by providing a framework to evaluate their preparedness and operational capacity. This enables them to respond more effectively to disasters by identifying strengths and areas for improvement in their humanitarian efforts.

Why is it important for local actors to be the first responders during a disaster?

Local actors are often the first to activate during a disaster because they have immediate access to the affected areas, local knowledge, and relationships within the community, which allow them to mobilize quickly and effectively.

What is the role of capacity building in humanitarian work?

Capacity building helps local organizations improve their institutional and operational capabilities, which in turn enhances the resilience of communities. It enables organizations to better respond to future disasters and improve their humanitarian outcomes.

How does the CHS guide humanitarian action?

The CHS provides nine commitments that guide effective and accountable humanitarian action, ensuring that the response efforts meet the needs of affected communities in a way that is inclusive, fair, and respectful of the principles of humanity.

What does an average score of 1 to 2 on the ICAT scale indicate?

An average score of 1 to 2 is considered a minor achievement. It shows that the organization has made some progress but requires more focused efforts to enhance its institutional and operational capacities.

What types of segments are included in the ICAT assessment?

The ICAT includes segments on institutional policies, financial management, human resource development, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, communication strategy, and external relations.

How should an organization complete the ICAT assessment?

The ICAT should be completed as a team, involving board members, leadership teams, employees, and well-informed external stakeholders to provide comprehensive and diverse perspectives.

How often should the ICAT be used?

The ICAT should be used regularly to track progress and measure improvements over time. It allows organizations to assess changes in their institutional and operational capacities and identify areas for further development.

How can an organization access the ICAT tool?

The ICAT tool can be accessed by downloading it for manual use or completing it online, which also allows for the creation of a profile and tracking of development over time.