Measurement of perceived needs in humanitarian contexts using the HESPER scale: a scoping study with reflections on the collaboration between researchers and humanitarian actors

This study evaluated the web version of the Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER). HESPER assesses a wide range of physical, psychological and social perceived needs across 26 questions. This scoping review, published in Conflict and Health, aimed to determine the scientific use of HESPER, or HESPER Web, to report on previously published perceived needs in humanitarian emergencies, and to discuss how scientific and humanitarian actors can work together in partnership in needs assessment in humanitarian settings.

The paper, published in Conflict and Health, concludes that inventorying the needs from the perspective of the affected population is important to tailor the response to each humanitarian emergency. The HESPER scale and the HESPER Web are multisectoral tools that can be used to take inventory of the perceived needs and indicate the mental health problems that arise in conflict-ridden and natural disaster contexts. It is essential that results from a scientific needs inventory are shared with adequate humanitarian stakeholders to not only facilitate a proper response, but also to foster a closer collaboration between scientists, humanitarians, and the affected population. Doing so would increase the development and use of evidence in practice when providing humanitarian aid.