Information Management
Print this pageInformation Management (IM) and Preparedness
Definition of IM: "The term information management covers the various stages of information processing from production to storage and retrieval to dissemination towards the better working of an organization; information can be from internal and external sources and in any format." Association for Information Management, 2005.
Managing timely, reliable and accurate information is critical for the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance. Setting up and having a functioning and effective information management system and strategy is therefore a key component of response preparedness as it is about improving the efficiency of humanitarian actors to deliver.
In line with the Operational Guidance on responsibilities of Cluster/ Sector leads & OCHA in Information Management (2007), information management activities should aim to "support national information systems, standards, build local capacities and maintain appropriate links with relevant Government, State and local authorities".
The Operational Guidance note, which focuses mainly on IM in response efforts, recognizes that "properly collected and managed data [...] are furthermore to the benefit of early recovery, recovery and later development and disaster preparedness activities" (emphasis added).
The following chart (from OCHA FIS) shows the different stages of information management:
For more detail, please consult the OCHA IM Toolbox as well as the Inter-Agency Information Management page of the HumanitarianReform.org website.
Useful resources and tools
Operational Guidance on Responsibilities of Cluster/Sector Leads & OCHA in Information Management. The Operational Guidance is intended for use at the country level to help Cluster/Sector leads, OCHA and humanitarian partners ensure that relevant information related to a humanitarian emergency is provided to the right person at the right time in a usable form to facilitate situational understanding and decision-making.
Inter-Agency Information Management page of HumanitarianReform.org
OCHA Information Management Toolbox. A resource base designed to assist humanitarian affairs professionals in managing information to support their work in ensuring better humanitarian planning and response. The Toolbox refers to four main areas, Information Management Principles and OCHA Standard Products; GIS and Technical Tools; HIC Management and Administration; and General Reference.
OCHA Who, Does, What, Where (3W) Website at http://3w.unocha.org/WhoWhatWhere. This application was developed by the OCHA-FIS as part of OCHA's Field Information Management Stratgegy. To ensure that appropriate and timely humanitarian response is delivered during a disaster or emergency situation, information must be managed efficiently. The key information that are important to assess and ensure that humanitarian needs are met in any emergency/disaster are, to know which organizations(Who) are carrying out what activities (What) in which locations (Where) which is also universally referred to as the 3W (Who does What Where). The Who does What Where database (3W) is one product that is universally agreed to be the most important priority for any co-ordination activity. The integrated Contact Management Directory, complements the 3W database, making it easy for the user to navigate through the application.
OCHA Geonetworks at http://geonetwork.unocha.org. OCHA GeoNetwork's purpose is: a) to improve access to and integrated use of spatial data and information; b) to support decision making; c) to promote multidisciplinary approaches to sustainable development; and d) to enhance understanding of the benefits of geographic information. OCHA GeoNetwork allows to easily share geographically referenced thematic information between different organizations.
Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) at http://ocha.unog.ch/virtualosocc. The main purpose of the Virtual OSOCC is to facilitate decision-making for international response to major disasters though real-time information exchange by all actors of the international disaster response community.
Global Symposium +5 (2007) website "Information for Humanitarian Action". Recognizing the centrality of information management to effective coordination of timely and predictable humanitarian action, [the purpose of the Global Symposium +5 was to] review principles and best practices established over the last 5 years to agree on global standards. These standards will form the basis of a Declaration on the centrality of information management and exchange to effective humanitarian preparedness and response as underpinned by agreed global standards. Approval and support will be sought for a GA Resolution that underpins the importance of global humanitarian information standards.
Final report of the Symposium on best practices in humanitarian information exchange, 2002