Rapid assessment allows a team of at least two researchers to develop a preliminary understanding of a complicated situation in which issues are not yet well defined. Rapid assessment is especially relevant when an insider’s perspective is needed, and there is not sufficient time or other resources for long-term, traditional qualitative research. Rapid assessment is a type of participatory action research. It shares many of the characteristics of ethnographic research. However, rapid assessment, uses intensive, team interaction and multiple cycles of data collection followed by data review/analysis, instead of the prolonged fieldwork normally associated with traditional qualitative research. Results can be used for planning, monitoring, and evaluating activities and for the design of additional research. Rapid assessment will almost always produce results in a fraction of the time and at less cost than is required by traditional qualitative research.