Expanded
Vulnerability/Capacity Analysis (VCA)
The framework proposed is an expanded Vulnerability/Capacity Analysis (VCA)[1], which pulls together analysis perspectives from several different existing frameworks. Often, especially in crisis and unstable contexts, there is no time to use many different analysis frameworks in one or separate exercises. Gender and age analysis, stakeholder analysis, activities and resources analysis and VCA should ideally be integrated to effectively collect information focusing on people. This framework is intended to facilitate such integration.
How to use this matrix
· As an analytical framework to define information needs and analyse the data;
· To guide further probing as data is collected;
· As a guide to final analysis of data and conclusions, i.e. what interventions should target, and how they can build on capacities and protect against the vulnerabilities of different groups.
Assessing vulnerabilities and capacities at community and household level to realise activities for survival, protection and longer-term development.Physical Resources / Strength: What physical resources are available to support key activities for survival, protection or development? Who has access and control? / ó / Weakness: What resources are missing, for whom and for which activities?
Opportunity: Are economic patterns changing? Which positive trends could be reinforced to ensure the sustainability, and wider availability of the resources? / ó / Threats: What resources are the poor most dependent on? Which resources are most likely to be depleted under current threats?
Social and Organisational Resources / Strength: Who is involved in organisations, groups? In what role? Who are the mobilisers, leaders, organisers, doers? What are the interests of those involved? How do they coincide with and support key activities? / ó / Weakness: Who is not involved or excluded from networks/organisations or from key activities? Are they affected by current situation? What is stopping them from being involved?
Whose interests conflict with key activities?
Opportunity: What organisational structures and networks support individual roles? Are different actors working together? Can leaders be mobilized? / ó / Threats: Which of the traditional structures or relationships are being eroded? Will competition over scarce resources threaten existing social capital?
Attitude and Motivation / Strength: How do values, attitudes, collective vision, laws and customs support the necessary activities? / ó / Weakness: Which values, attitudes, laws and customs work against needed activities or against different actors?
Opportunity: Can leadership, children or young people be mobilised to reinforce positive values and/or promote positive action? / ó / Threat: How do values attitudes, laws and customs encourage higher risk behaviour? Does this differ for different groups?
What it can tell us
The integrated matrix outlines a series of questions intended to guide analysis of capacity (or vulnerability). Capacity analysis is more specific and useful when the goal is more specifically defined i.e. capacity for what. Thus, for example, this matrix can be applied to examine a community’s capacity for child protection. (By extension, many of the same questions can be used for examining the capacity of a network of actors in society, from public and private sectors, from central to local levels). For each goal or area of concern, the matrix leads us to explore how resources, organisational support and attitudes/values all influence the activities that a community or society must undertake. This analysis indicates what strengths exist and can be built upon, as well as where support is needed. Thus it should contribute directly to the orientation and design of programmes.
The matrix can be used to explore activities related to survival, to protection and to longer-term development. In stable contexts, the analysis is best applied to broad sectoral or issue-oriented goals.
In UNICEF, for example, the matrix could be used for analysis vis-à-vis each one of the programme priorities identified in the Medium Term Strategic Plan. Similarly, in a crisis situation, the framework should be applied to the range of goals/issues as defined by the programme facet of the Core Corporate Commitments, specifically examining community-level capacities to:
· Ensure basic health care services, including medical assistance to children and women
· Ensure immunisation of children and pregnant and lactating women
· Ensure basic nutrition
· Provide health and nutrition education
· Ensure safe environments for children for learning
· Provide basic education services
· Ensure the identification and support to children who have lost their parents or caregivers
· Identify violations of children's rights
· Protect children from all forms of "physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation" (CRC, Article 19)
· Provide psychosocial support to children
· Ensure availability of minimum safe water supply
· Ensure minimum hygiene
· Ensure safe excreta and solid waste disposal.
In each case, the framework helps to pose questions that draw out capacities and vulnerabilities of members of the community and the community as a whole.
UNICEF M&E Training Resource Expanded Vulnerability/Capacity Analysis 1/3
[1] The framework is called VCA following on IFRC’s work where the progression is from threat analysis to vulnerability analysis to capacity analysis. The intent from UNICEF perspective was to fit this tool more logically in UNICEF emergency preparedness and response planning process, which begins with threat analysis. The emphasis on capacity analysis remains critical.