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Afghanistan

Humanitarian Response Monitoring: Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan 2015

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The Response Monitoring Framework (RMF) is a complementary document to the Afghanistan 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). It consists of a Results Framework, a response Monitoring Plan, Reporting Schedule and additional ICCT and cluster specific monitoring plans as an annex. Together the RMF provides a structure for the humanitarian community to assess progress achieved against planned results set out in the 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Ensuring a process by which to monitor progress against results achieved versus resources allocated is essential in terms of improving transparency and accountability of the humanitarian community towards affected populations, local governments, donors and one another. However it also provides humanitarian actors an evidence base for making decisions about what actions should be taken to redress shortcomings, fill gaps and/or adjust response plans, contributing to a more effective and efficient humanitarian response, in the short and long term.

The RMF focuses on three levels of the interlinked results chain ‐ inputs, outputs, and outcomes. In this case the outcomes are linked to the HRP Strategic Priorities and refer to higher level changes in the humanitarian situation that the response activities will theoretically contribute towards achieving but that will not be achieved solely by the HRP response. Although change at this level may not be discernible within the twelve month HRP cycle, it must be measurable and indicators at this level have also been identified in order to keep track of overall progress towards the desired outcomes. A longitudinal approach to monitoring these expected outcomes will be integrated into Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Monitoring over the next three to five years, building consistency and comparability into our HRP approach.

This is the first initiative to develop a structured approach to monitoring the HRP in Afghanistan and as such 2015 will focus on developing mechanisms and tools that build capacity and accuracy in monitoring the response itself. Through a series of well‐defined output and outcome indicators, the framework will enable the HCT to track the results and services produced by the combined resources, inputs and activities of a large‐scale multi‐agency response.

Additional analysis of needs versus outputs by individual clusters will further allow for some level of outcome monitoring at the cluster level, determining short and medium term results of specific activities. For instance, based on the activities and outputs delivered, some clusters should be able to identify what changes are brought about, and who benefits.

Finally, in addition to response monitoring through these three levels of the results chain, a simultaneous ‘situation monitoring’ approach will provide complementary evidence to inform strategic and programmatic decision making. Monitoring of a selection of key continuous and or/ regular data sources will inform systematic assessment and analysis of any changes in the humanitarian context that might require adjustment of planned activities, and updates of the response plan accordingly. This approach does not take the place of the annual requirement to undertake a comprehensive Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) but compliments and supplements the existing HNO analysis in between HRP cycles.

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