What DTM MSLA is NOT?

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Jan 01 2020 Print

DTM Multi Sectoral Location Assessment (MSLA) data are often used to understand scope and scale of displacement, as well as trends. However, they are also used operationally, for example to raise alerts and red flags on locations in urgent sectoral need, and to help prioritize locations for follow up sectoral assessment and other actions.

 Methods and context have an impact on the information collected in any such exercise. DTM MSLA is not:

  • a Sectoral Needs Assessment tool
  • a Protection Monitoring tool, 
  • a Case Management system
  • a Response Monitoring and Evaluation tool
  • a technical assessment (Health, Shelter, WASH, …)
  • a facility -level assessment (DTM MSLA does not visit Health Centres, Schools…)

In its mobility tracking component, DTM does not interview individuals or HH, and DTM enumerators and key informants are not sectoral experts.  In most cases, DTM does not conduct Focus Group Discussions.

DTM, however, has a large and consistent coverage of crisis, can be adjusted to collect information that clusters need, and provides regular updates on critical issues.   

In addition, its data are collected over time (a monitoring mechanism) and can indicate how displacement and conditions of displaced populations evolve over time. 

DTM questions are designed to be answered by non-sectoral experts, in a way that results can be used by sectoral experts for analysis.  

Ideally, DTM teams provide the clusters with information and possibly descriptive analysis (when agreed).

Information is then jointly analysed by the cluster members (subject matter experts/decision makers) and context/cultural experts, bringing together available information from all sources.

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