Project Overview

The Goal

To analyze a large-scale dataset on Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) from the Ukraine crisis to derive actionable insights on aid distribution, reporting practices, and demographic reach, while acknowledging the data's inherent limitations.

The Solution

A comprehensive analytical report based on data collected by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The study explores patterns in MPCA interventions, highlighting key findings that can inform current operations and improve future data collection strategies in humanitarian emergencies.

Key Objectives

• Analyze aid distribution patterns to understand the influence of logistics and partner presence versus purely needs-based criteria.
• Evaluate reporting granularity and consistency across different types of humanitarian actors (UN, NGOs, RCRC Movement).
• Identify potential demographic reporting gaps and suggest improvements for future data collection efforts.

Audience & Stakeholders

• Primary Users: Humanitarian program managers, data analysts, and members of the MPCA technical working group.
• Key Stakeholders: OCHA, partner NGOs, UN agencies, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, and humanitarian donors.

The Plan & Key Features

Overall Approach

The project involved an exploratory data analysis of a real-world, field-collected dataset. The core strategy was to extract meaningful trends from coordination data, carefully contextualize the findings by acknowledging data limitations (e.g., inconsistencies in financial reporting), and produce practical recommendations.

Core Components

• Component 1: Partner-Level Analysis: Disaggregated data by partner type to compare the reporting detail and geographic focus of national NGOs, UN agencies, and the RCRC Movement.
• Component 2: Geospatial Distribution Analysis: Examined the clustering of aid activities in relation to conflict zones to assess the role of accessibility in distribution.
• Component 3: Demographic Data Review: Scrutinized household composition data to identify potential underreporting of specific groups, such as adult men.

Timeline & Deliverables

Major Milestones

• Date: Data acquisition from OCHA and initial data cleaning/preparation.
• Date: Completion of the core analysis and drafting of key findings.
• 20 Jan 2025: Final analytical report published.

Final Deliverables

• A published analytical article detailing the methodology, key findings, and conclusion.
• A set of concrete recommendations for enhancing future humanitarian MPCA tracking tools.
• A basis for a subsequent research project using statistical models to analyze risk perception.