This page focuses on the processes of preparing for and facilitating market assessment team workshops, gathering and analysing data, and writing reports; however, there are numerous additional tasks involved in organizing an assessment, such as getting agency buy-in, defining the scope and objectives of the exercise, assembling the assessment team, developing a communications plan, and arranging the logistical aspects of the assessment. Since the person responsible for these tasks is often not the same person who will be facilitating the assessment, these other aspects are discussed further on the Planning an Assessment page.
The best way to prepare to lead a market assessment is undoubtedly to first participate in an assessment under the supervision of a more experienced assessment leader. If you don’t have assessment lead experience but are comfortable with basic concepts of market analysis and have significant experience in leading humanitarian assessments, you may be able to lead an assessment on your own, though it’s best to start with an assessment of limited scope (e.g., a relatively small geographic area and one or two fairly simple critical market systems).
At the moment, there is no comprehensive guidance document specifically for market assessment leaders; that said, many market assessment toolkits and guidance documents contain a great deal of relevant information. The EMMA Toolkit and the PCMA guidance document have especially useful guidance regarding the technical elements of market analysis. Another resource that may be useful for EMMA leaders is the EMMA Leader’s Guide, a compilation of lessons learned from early EMMA exercises, tips from EMMA leaders, and some basic document templates.
For one example of an EMMA leader in action, watch this 2-part video of a market mapping exercise in Myanmar: