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IASC Report, Task Force Information Management Workshop, 2011

Published Date

Information Management (IM) enables situational understanding, coordination, strategic and operational decision making, accountability, advocacy, and fundraising. The focus of the information management workshop was on redefining humanitarian information management, identifying key services and features of an enhanced modus operandi and outlining an action plan for improving humanitarian information management. A number of broad conclusions were drawn from the workshop, which are summarized in an overarching statement, along with specific recommendations for action:

The current model for the delivery of information management in humanitarian crises as reflected in the IASC operational guidance note, can and should be improved.
1) Increased understanding, recognition and political support at the highest levels are required
2) Efforts should be undertaken to collaborate at the inter-agency level on expanding and improving the existing human resources available
3) Increasing the financial resources of information management in humanitarian crises is of critical priority
4) The need for accountability to beneficiary communities has been recognised, as has the value of involving beneficiaries in the design and delivery of humanitarian action
5) Information management responsibilities and services should be reflected in a more detailed manner
6) Support the standardization of information management services and products delivered at the Cluster/Sector and inter-Cluster/Sector level
7) Detailed guidance and standards should be developed
8) The identification and codification of Common Operational Datasets and the work being undertaken on the Fundamental Operational Datasets are important steps in ensuring stronger, more efficient, and more predictable information management in humanitarian crises
9) Improving the predictability of information requests made by OCHA to Clusters/Sectors is of critical importance to producing quality information products
10) Opportunities exist to draw useful information from social media
11) The key humanitarian indicators were noted as a valuable contribution to supporting standard collection of data