Market analysis helps us design more effective and sustainable aid programmes. Through a new EU-funded project, Transforming Supply Chain Planning – Market Analysis Project, we are supporting the humanitarian sector to build capacity in this crucial area.
Market analysis: building stronger aid programmes
Market analysis enables us to support local economies and minimise the risk of doing harm to local livelihoods. By assessing whether markets can supply essential goods and services, ensure safe and fair access, and scale up to allow for cash or voucher assistance (CVA), we make evidence-based decisions that strengthen our response.
At NRC, project managers and logisticians must work closely together to define goals, address operational needs, and use the evidence provided by market analysis to choose the best delivery method – cash, vouchers, or in-kind aid.
In crises, working with local markets not only meets urgent needs but also supports economic recovery. Integrating market analysis into planning ensures our aid strengthens communities, both now and in the future.
Why aren’t more humanitarian organisations using market analysis?
Despite the importance of market analysis, there remains a widespread lack of awareness, knowledge and capacity among humanitarian staff on how to use it effectively in programme design and tactical procurement planning.
There is little systematic sharing of existing market analysis reports, leading to duplicated efforts and evidence gaps. This challenge is compounded by the lack of training, resources and global guidelines, particularly for non-technical staff.
Better coordination is needed to centralise information and foster a shared understanding of market functionality.
Strengthening market analysis across the sector
The Transforming Supply Chain Planning – Market Analysis Project, funded by the European Union, focuses on enhancing the capacity of humanitarian workers to develop and use market analysis for cash preparedness and tactical supply chain planning.
The project targets humanitarian workers implementing CVA projects or working towards the localisation of procurement. It is designed to enhance coordination among NGOs, strengthen knowledge and skills in market analysis, and minimise the risk of doing unintended harm to local markets by providing the capacity for evidence-based decision-making.
The project activities include:
- 18 free trainings on market analysis methodologies
- a Training of Trainers (TOT) programme
- enhancing coordination efforts on market analysis in four country contexts
- advocating for the increase of CVA, the localisation of procurement and the role of supply chain in this shift
Market analysis training programme
The target group for the training programme is humanitarian practitioners responsible for informing decision-making about modality and sourcing of response design in their organisation. This includes, but is not limited to:
- supply chain/logistics staff
- project managers
- CVA technical staff
- monitoring and evaluation specialists
- local NGO staff
The trainings will be held virtually and are free to attend, thanks to funding from EU Humanitarian Aid. To accommodate time zones and language preferences, trainings will be targeted on a regional and/or country basis.
The training courses are as follows:
NRC Market Analysis with MSMA
This virtual training course runs over five sessions of two hours each. Participants will learn how to conduct a multi-sector market assessment (MSMA) for programmes lasting six months or more. The training has been designed to be interactive and collaborative. It provides step-by-step guidance and ready-to-contextualise tools to enable staff to successfully carry out a market analysis using the MSMA approach developed by UNHCR.
NRC Rapid Market Assessment with Stoplight
This virtual four-hour training teaches participants how to conduct a Stoplight Rapid Market Assessment for emergency and small low-risk projects. The training has been designed to be interactive and collaborative. It provides step-by-step guidance and ready-to-contextualise tools to enable staff to successfully carry out a market analysis using the Stoplight tool developed by Mercy Corps and the Danish Refugee Council, and adapted by NRC.
NRC Training of Trainers on Market Analysis Methodologies
This training has been developed by NRC to train trainers in how to deliver the above training courses on the Stoplight and MSMA methodologies. Completion of both of the above courses is a prerequisite to joining this course. More information will be shared with prospective participants directly.
How much does it cost?
These training courses are free!
Will I get a certificate at the end?
Yes – you will be able to download a certificate once you have completed the trainings.
How do I sign up?
The training programme is expected to launch in the spring of 2025 and run on a regular basis until the end of the project October 2026. Sign up via the link below to be kept up to date.
Register for marketing analysis training
Find out more
For more information, please contact the NRC Market Analysis Project Team: ho.marketanalysis@nrc.no
Market analysis enables us to support local economies and minimise the risk of doing harm to local livelihoods. By assessing whether markets can supply essential goods and services, ensure safe and fair access, and scale up to allow for cash or voucher assistance (CVA), we make evidence-based decisions that strengthen our response.
At NRC, project managers and logisticians must work closely together to define goals, address operational needs, and use the evidence provided by market analysis to choose the best delivery method – cash, vouchers, or in-kind aid.
In crises, working with local markets not only meets urgent needs but also supports economic recovery. Integrating market analysis into planning ensures our aid strengthens communities, both now and in the future.
Why aren’t more humanitarian organisations using market analysis?
Despite the importance of market analysis, there remains a widespread lack of awareness, knowledge and capacity among humanitarian staff on how to use it effectively in programme design and tactical procurement planning.
There is little systematic sharing of existing market analysis reports, leading to duplicated efforts and evidence gaps. This challenge is compounded by the lack of training, resources and global guidelines, particularly for non-technical staff.
Better coordination is needed to centralise information and foster a shared understanding of market functionality.
Strengthening market analysis across the sector
The Transforming Supply Chain Planning – Market Analysis Project, funded by the European Union, focuses on enhancing the capacity of humanitarian workers to develop and use market analysis for cash preparedness and tactical supply chain planning.
The project targets humanitarian workers implementing CVA projects or working towards the localisation of procurement. It is designed to enhance coordination among NGOs, strengthen knowledge and skills in market analysis, and minimise the risk of doing unintended harm to local markets by providing the capacity for evidence-based decision-making.
The project activities include:
- 18 free trainings on market analysis methodologies
- a Training of Trainers (TOT) programme
- enhancing coordination efforts on market analysis in four country contexts
- advocating for the increase of CVA, the localisation of procurement and the role of supply chain in this shift
Market analysis training programme
The target group for the training programme is humanitarian practitioners responsible for informing decision-making about modality and sourcing of response design in their organisation. This includes, but is not limited to:
- supply chain/logistics staff
- project managers
- CVA technical staff
- monitoring and evaluation specialists
- local NGO staff
The trainings will be held virtually and are free to attend, thanks to funding from EU Humanitarian Aid. To accommodate time zones and language preferences, trainings will be targeted on a regional and/or country basis.
The training courses are as follows:
NRC Market Analysis with MSMA
This virtual training course runs over five sessions of two hours each. Participants will learn how to conduct a multi-sector market assessment (MSMA) for programmes lasting six months or more. The training has been designed to be interactive and collaborative. It provides step-by-step guidance and ready-to-contextualise tools to enable staff to successfully carry out a market analysis using the MSMA approach developed by UNHCR.
NRC Rapid Market Assessment with Stoplight
This virtual four-hour training teaches participants how to conduct a Stoplight Rapid Market Assessment for emergency and small low-risk projects. The training has been designed to be interactive and collaborative. It provides step-by-step guidance and ready-to-contextualise tools to enable staff to successfully carry out a market analysis using the Stoplight tool developed by Mercy Corps and the Danish Refugee Council, and adapted by NRC.
NRC Training of Trainers on Market Analysis Methodologies
This training has been developed by NRC to train trainers in how to deliver the above training courses on the Stoplight and MSMA methodologies. Completion of both of the above courses is a prerequisite to joining this course. More information will be shared with prospective participants directly.
How much does it cost?
These training courses are free!
Will I get a certificate at the end?
Yes – you will be able to download a certificate once you have completed the trainings.
How do I sign up?
The training programme is expected to launch in the spring of 2025 and run on a regular basis until the end of the project October 2026. Sign up via the link below to be kept up to date.
Register for marketing analysis training
Find out more
For more information, please contact the NRC Market Analysis Project Team: ho.marketanalysis@nrc.no
