What We Do * Information Management
Saturday, November 07, 2009   
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Information Management in Humanitarian Emergencies

The first days and weeks of an emergency present responders with an enormous challenge. Just when obtaining accurate information is most critical, the availability of such information is at its lowest ebb. If steps are not taken to establish an environment in which accurate information can be obtained and made widely available, the effective delivery of assistance can be significantly undermined.


The OCHA-ROAP Information Management Unit (IMU) works before, during and after emergencies to improve the availability and use of information, including by:

  • Publishing maps, statistics and reports on humanitarian issues in the region, including natural hazards, conflict and the activities of humanitarian agencies.
  • Providing technical support and guidance to UN country teams in the region on the effective management and use of information for disaster preparedness, contingency planning and emergency response.
  • Supporting the provision of relief assistance in emergencies by rapidly enabling a collaborative information management environment, including by staffing Humanitarian Information Centres (HICs).
  • As emergency turns to relief and recovery, ensuring institutional memory is maintained and used for future early warning, preparedness and planning.
Global OCHA Information Management Tools & Services

Timely and accurate information is integral to humanitarian action in both natural disasters and complex emergencies and is especially critical for effective early warning and prevention. OCHA’s global information management activities support humanitarian decision-making and response by providing effective systems for the collection, analysis, dissemination and exchange of key information and data.
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Mapping

ROAP publishes regional and country maps on a wide range of issues, including natural hazard risk. The maps are intended to provide an overview of the region and the issues facing humanitarian and development actors. The maps can be downloaded from our Map Centre.

Data Readiness

Accurate and timely information is critical in emergency response operations but unless groundwork is established in advance this information can take precious months to obtain. ROAP is assessing the availability of resources related to data collection and analysis in priority countries through the Data Readiness Initiative.

Who does What Where

There are hundreds of organisations working on humanitarian issues in the region. ROAP maintains a database of country and regional offices of major UN agencies, IOs and NGOs in Asia and the Pacific. The database also includes contacts in national disaster management agencies and other government counterparts. The data can be viewed through our online Who does What Where.

HIC: Humanitarian Information Centre

HICs are routinely setup in major disasters, with a trailer full of equipment and supplies – enough to create a self-sufficient computing centre – on permanent standby and deployable within 72 hours. HICs are staffed with technical specialists in GIS and information management, as well as staff specialising in coordination, liaison and reporting. HICs provide a physical space for common coordination services; information products including maps, reports, contact lists, and meeting schedules; a focal point for data management and GIS; facilitation of IM initiatives including common surveys and analysis; and advocacy for information-sharing. Read more about HICs here.
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This website was developed with the assistance of Thematic Funding from the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission in 2004 and 2005