Support with replicating the IOA approach has been requested from a range of outbreak response actors and organisations coordinating public health emergencies. Recognizing that deployment of IOA personnel and teams is not always feasible, nor the most appropriate approach, an easy to use, flexible IOA toolkit has been developed by the IOA Toolkit Task Team (including IOA Core Team partners from UNICEF, WHO, Epicentre and IFRC) (Figure 1).
Objectives:
- Provide comprehensive understanding of IOA and underscore the significance of an integrated, holistic approach in managing outbreak responses.
- Offer step-by-step guidance on the configuration and practical implementation of IOA.
The IOA Toolkit is designed to support the application of IOA principles across various settings by organizations, countries, and communities. Developed based on a model from DRC, its creation involved a consultative process with entities experienced in IOA application. This toolkit builds upon an existing array of tools, templates, reports, case studies, animations, and publications used by stakeholders in diverse contexts. It includes standard operating procedures (SOPs), IOA tools, and additional resources. Insights from various actors in humanitarian and emergency response further enriched its content.
Contents
- Introduction
- IOA Approach and Structures
- IOA Process (Figure 2)
- Information, Data and Sources (Figure 3)
- Trigger Questions
- Reviewing and Interpreting Existing Information
- Rapid Protocols
- Additional Information Collection
- Collaborative Integrated Analysis
- Co-development of Actions
- Monitoring Evidence Use
- Workbook
- Appendix (including open-source tool repository, SOPs and Templates)
The IOA Toolkit is planned for launch in March 2025.
