Use of Rapid Assessment Procedures in Evaluation in UNICEF

The use of RAP in evaluation in UNICEF is briefly outlined in this paper. In UNICEF, a Rapid Assessment Procedure [RAP] exercise "includes as a central base, the use of techniques derived from the field of anthropology such as focus group discussions, observation, and unstructured one-on-one interviews, that form a body of mainly qualitative data". Normally the qualitative information derived from RAP will be used in conjunction with quantitative data, which might already be available, or which might be collected as part of a RAP investigation itself. Although the report includes an admission that "RAP is not a particularly useful type of method to use for evaluations of a participatory nature..", the author does point out that RAP evaluations do have an important role in encouraging participatory development processes in projects, and that RAP style evaluation "can be used, if so desired, as a way of instilling a sense that more peoples participation may be more desirable in a development project".