Overview

Selecting and procuring NFIs requires time and detailed planning. Poorly planned interventions can limit the effectiveness and relevance of our response. Start the identification of needed items as early as possible and consider the timeframe from the start of procurement process until receiving items at IOM warehouse/distribution location. 

Selecting items and kits 

• Refer to Sphere Standard 4 Household Items: Household item assistance supports restoring and maintaining health, dignity and safety and the undertaking of daily domestic activities in and around the home. 

• To support harmonization and a coordinated response, first check if there are standard items and/or kits defined by the Cluster/Sector/Working Groups. If not, work with relevant Clusters and active partners in the affected area to harmonize/standardize items and kit components whenever possible. 
• Based on the need assessment and other available data such as PDM reports from recent distributions in the same area, determine what and how many items are to be distributed per individual or household. 
• Carefully select essential household items such as kitchen items, cooking fuel, child and elderly care items to ensure they are adequate to the needs of the individuals in household. ^_*1 
• Items and kits should be based on gender, age and diversity sensitive need assessments. Lack of appropriate items (e.g. adequate clothing, bedding, fuel) may hinder freedom of movement, self-confidence, and choice significantly, or put people at risk through harmful coping mechanism or added burdens. _^*2
• Consider the weight and volume of items that people must carry after the distribution. Provide transport assistance as needed
• For more details about gender sensitive selection of each household items, refer the chapter 5.1 Non-Food Items (NFIs) of the GENDER & SHELTER Good Programming Guidelines. _^*3
• For selection of the Hygiene kit and other WASH related NFIs, see IOM Emergency WASH Items Catalogue 2023, or if available, follow the standard Cluster WASH kit content in the country. 

Replenishment of consumables, repeat and/or seasonal distributions 

• Some items such as fuel, and hygiene items may need to be replenished. 
• Other items such as clothing or bedding for winter, mosquito nets, etc. may need to be distributed or redistributed at specific intervals. 
• Consider defining an replenishment kit that contains mainly consumable items that beneficiaries need more often versus a full NFI kit. 
• Multi-round NFI assistance is another solution to replenishing NFIs, which can be done through in-kind and cash/ voucher modalities. _^*4

Specifications

See IOM LOGISTICS EMERGENCY CATALOGUE entry to identify detailed specifications of most commonly procured non-food items. Also see the following resources for procurement, logistic, and material usage. 

Items that require donor approval

For certain items such as mosquito nets, approval from donors is required. Refer to donor guidelines if any items need particular attention for inclusion in the proposal, and for procurement and distribution.

Mode of procurement

See NFI Procurement section in the SHELTER AND NFI OPERATIONS entry.

In addition, refer to following guidance for long-term agreements (LTA), acquiring global stocks, and managing in-kind contributions.

Packaging 

• At the procurement stage, consider the volume and weight of items and kits that beneficiaries will be receiving and carrying home. 
• Whenever possible, package into kits before distribution for easy transportation. Depending on the distribution timeframe and procurement lead time, consider kitting NFIs at supplier side or at IOM warehouse.
• Make sure the package includes details about the kit content and quantity of each item. 
• Add  hotline number or other ways people can provide feedback or raise a complaint
• Bags with thin straps may be uncomfortable to carry, specially for people on the move or in transit. Camping-type backpacks, bags with wheels or small waterproof backpacks should be considered. _^*5

Environmental considerations

• Choose items that will not result in harmful environmental impacts for recipients and their communities.
• Choose items that do not deplete natural resources or cause long-term environmental impact. _^*6
• For selecting fuel and household energy supply assistance, assess health and safety, reliability, affordability, and environmental sustainability of the supply system. _^*7
• Consider salvaged, reused, recycled, or re-purposed materials. _^*8
• Avoid unnecessary individual sub-packaging and/or single-use plastic whilst ensuring medical supplies, food items, personal hygiene products ware safe to use. ^_*9
• Minimize items made of plastic and opt for more durable items.
• Reduce transportation distance of items, consider local procurement as much as possible.

To learn more about greening NFIs, visit following links. 

Contacts

For more information, please contact the Shelter and Settlements Unit in Geneva: ShelterSupport@iom.int.

Please also find the contact information to the IOM Shelter Reference Group: ShelterReferenceGroup@iom.int.