Online Research
Rapid Background Research
RELIEF-WEB: for general news and updates on emergency situations (organised by countries and sectors), lot of maps, OCHA Situation Reports, Clusters Reports www.reliefweb.int
FEWS-NET: for food security information, description of livelihood zones and market profiles, data on market and trade, food security, map of trade flows. www.fews.net
MAP-ACTION: source of maps and technical information, for example of trade flow www.mapaction.org
UN OCHA: “Who Does What Where” -a contact management directory. www.unocha.org
LOG CLUSTER: logistic information relevent to conducting fieldwork, road conditions and travel times, maps and supplier database (for contacts). www.logcluster.org
UNICEF: for general country overview information, especially for water and sanitation, health sector, essential household items. Focus on children’s needs. www.unicef.org
WFP: for information on food security issues, search by country, CFSVA and CFSAM reports. www.wfp.org
UNHCR: usually good for information on shelter needs, especially for refugees and IDP movements. www.unhcr.org
IOM: International Office for Migration. Reports related to movement of people and shelter needs. www.iom.int
IFRC: for links to national Red Cross organisations (especially relevent after natural disasters). www.ifrc.org
Detailed Background Research
FAO and FAOSTAT : for reports and data on food production, food security and balance sheets.
WFP VAM: the Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping branch, for detailed reports about food insecurity.
Microfinance Gateway: for country profiles on microfinance institutions and credit services.
Food Economy Group: resource for Household Economy Analysis (HEA) reports and guidance.
Livelihoods Connect: resource for sustainable livelihoods approach, reports and guidance.
SEEP-Network: good for web-links to country-specific sites on microfinance, enterprise development
BDS-Knowledge: huge library of reports on enterprise development, market analysis.
UNDP: for more detailed reports on long-term development policies and livelihoods strategies.
Value Chain Development Wiki: A value chain resource reference
Microlinks: Micro-Enterprise Learning and Knowledge Sharing.
