Planning for EMMA

This page is a brief overview of basic considerations for an EMMA in the field. For detailed information on planning and leading an EMMA, please download the EMMA Leader’s Guide from the Leading an EMMA page on this site

Experience has shown that good planning for EMMA assessments is essential to getting good information and thus having a solid, timely report and recommendations. Time that is spent straightening out logistics or staffing issues is time that is not spent in the field.

An indicative time table for an EMMA in response to a sudden-onset emergency

Sudden-onset Emergency Event = Day Zero
Timeframe Activities
Week 1 -Background research before arrival in-country
-Recruitment of EMMA team (optional; necessary if undertaking multi-agency EMMA)
-Preparation and logistics for induction and fieldwork
Weeks 1-2 -Orientation and induction for EMMA team
-Select critical market(s)
-Testing questionnaires, formats, methods (pilot)
Weeks 2-3

-Field data collection
-Collation, interpretation and analysis of data. During field data collection, at least one day should be set aside to convene the team for group discussion and analysis
Weeks 3-4 -Report writing and presentation of results

Cost

EMMAs have been conducted for as little as $5,000 USD and as much as $30,000 USD, not counting airfare and staff time. Access to cash is important for team leaders, as it gives them the ability to hire and efficiently pay enumerators, translators and drivers. It is also important to have some cash on hand to procure small but important things like like flip chart paper, notebooks, markers, pens, printer paper and perhaps even a small desktop printer.

Good preparation before deployment will lower costs by reducing the number of days needed in the field.

Logistics

Vehicles are critical for an EMMA. In the time-sensitive data collection phase, any time wasted wrangling drivers and vehicles can quickly have a significant impact. Lessons from the field have shown that transportation (and access generally) can be one of the greatest challenges to an EMMA team.  Extra money spent on vehicles and logistics may actually save money if it reduces team and/or consultant days in-country.