Managing Humanitarian Projects → Information Management

Information Management

Information is critical to an effective humanitarian response, but it needs to be clear, reliable, relevant to the needs of the affected population, and produced and updated regularly.

“Information itself is very directly about saving lives. If we take the wrong decisions, make the wrong choices about where we put our money and our effort because our knowledge is poor, we are condemning some of the most deserving to death or destitution.”         John Holmes, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, 2007
 

Effective Information Management is essential throughout assessments, on-going monitoring, implementation, resourcing and reporting.
 

The Information Cycle highlights the need to collect data, process it into information, store it where it can be accessed, analyse and disseminate it to ensure it informs decision making and actions.
 

Data Collection – keep it simple

• Collect only what you need – consider what decisions you need to make and so what information you need to make these decisions.
• Be proactive - use a range of methods: reporting forms, spreadsheets, phones.
• Build relationships – people share information if they get useful, timely information in return
• Use common formats and datasets – to ensure data can be analysed and compared with others e.g. location reference, individual/household/village levels

Data Collation – sorting and aligning the pieces

• Storage – database, electronic v. hard copy, ease of use and access
• Find common links – sort by location (GPS coordinates/P-codes), categories

Data Analysis – creative processing of data

• Forms of analysis: needs, capacity, output, gaps, impact analyses
• Questions – geographic tendencies? trends over time? totals by agency? validity and accuracy of the information?
• Processes – mapping; matrices/spreadsheets; graphs/charts. This may need technical expertise and is often done centrally e.g. through UN OCHA, clusters

Information Dissemination – sharing your ‘picture’

• Who – who needs to know, especially those whose data is included and the affected population
• How – email? local media? posters/hardcopy? website?
• Style – translations are key; simple language; clear presentation

Decision Making – using the information and knowledge

Ensure information is used to guide planning, advocacy, monitoring, operational decisions to prioritise the needs of the affected population.