Response Analysis: What Drives Program Choice?

This research considers “response analysis”: the analytical process by which the objectives and modality of program response options in an emergency are determined. The research question was whether improved analysis drives program response choices in humanitarian food security interventions?
Answering this question requires two separate steps:
(1) understand the link of food security and nutrition analysis to response choice and program design;
(2) consider the impact of these programs in addressing food insecurity.

This research protocol addressed the first step: the link of response analysis to response choice and program design. The objective was to better understand the details that agencies and donors use to make actual program choices in response to food security crises; understand approaches and methods (formal or informal) used in practice; and learn how to build a stronger evidence base of the way analytical practices can inform program choices.