RESPONSE MONITORING MONITORING In order to ensure that SADC will meet its set objectives of ensuring a well-coordinated Member State response, the El Niño response team will put systems in place to enable the monitoring of the response and hence give stakeholders an opportunity to review and adjust the response in a timely manner that does not compromise on quality assistance to the affected. THE FRAMEWORK Covering June 2016 to March 2017, the Response Monitoring Framework (RMF) will track achievements against agreed targets for delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations. The RMF defines what will be monitored, how and when, identifies responsibilities for monitoring and analysis, and provides a clear schedule for the release of reports, including situational reports and humanitarian dashboards. While providing an evidence base for SADC and its MS to make decisions on strengthening the humanitarian response, addressing shortcomings, and adjusting the response, the monitoring framework will also strengthen the humanitarian community’s accountability towards the affected population REPORTING Regular monitoring reports will be produced. These monitoring reports will present progress made against agreed targets as set out in the RMF, challenges faced in reaching the set targets, changes in the context, if any, an analysis of funding, and recommendations for the way forward. The situation update and humanitarian dashboard will be used to highlight key responses, needs and gaps. Member States will be encouraged to use the same situational reporting templates to enable easier regional synthesis. The regional needs overview including recommendations to address the needs will be updated on a quarterly basis to ensure that the response is in line with changing needs. Young boy collects maize from the ground, Zimbabwe Source: News Zimbabwe Photo credits: Ziniyange Auntony, AFP 37