Vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) is a process of participatory investigation designed to assess and address major risks affecting communities. It aims to determine people’s vulnerability to those risks, and their capacity to cope and recover from a disaster.

VCA makes it possible for National Societies to work with vulnerable communities to:

• Help them understand the hazards they face;
• Assist them in taking the necessary measures to improve the situation, based on their own skills, knowledge and initiatives.

• Gender and diversity sensitive vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA)
• What is VCA? An introduction to vulnerability and capacity assessment
• How to do a VCA? A practical step-by-step guide for Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers
• VCA toolbox with reference sheets
• VCA training guide
• VCA lessons learnt and recommendations
• A practical step by step VCA guide for Red Cross and Red Crescent field practitioners and volunteers
• Integrating climate change and urban risks into the VCA
• How can climate change be considered in VCA?

• Participatory Evaluation of the Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA) and Comparative Analysis with the Community Based Disaster Risk Assessment (CBDRA)
• Audiovisual/video: Gender and Diversity Sensitive Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA)
• Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA): Manual for Viet Nam Red Cross Practitioners
• Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) by Cambodian Red Cross
• Vulnerability & Capacity Assessment (VCA) powerpoint presentation by Thai Red Cross [Thai language]
• Facilitator’s Guide on VCA Training Pelatihan VCA dan Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) [Indonesian Language]
• Gender and diversity-sensitive approach to VCA tools

See also the VCA in practice at this weblink: Working together with Thai communities on disaster resilience with a strong focus on gender and diversity

IFRC VCA publications are structured as below:

Each document serves a specific purpose:

1. What is VCA? – The first publication is an introduction to VCA aimed at National Society and Federation delegation staff, donors and partners.
2. How to do a VCA – The second publication is a step-by-step guide to undertaking a VCA for National Society staff and volunteers.
3. VCA toolbox – The third publication is a description of research methods and instruction in how to use a variety of information-gathering techniques.
4. VCA training guide – The fourth publication is a hands-on, learning-by-doing training manual.