2.5 Data responsibility in humanitarian actions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 2.5.1 The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Operational Guidance on Data Responsibility in Humanitarian Action
  • What is it about ?
• 2.5.2 Handbook on Data Protection in Humanitarian Action (ICRC)
  • What is it about ?
• 2.5.3 Guidance Notes on Data Responsibility in OCHA Humanitarian Action
  • NOTE 1: Statistical Data Disclosure Control
  • NOTE 2: Data Incident Management
  • NOTE 3: Data Responsibility in Public-Private Partnerships
  • NOTE 4: The ethics of humanitarian data
  • NOTE 5: Data impact analysis
  • NOTE 6: Data Responsibility in Money Transfers
  • NOTE 7: Responsible Data Sharing with Funders
  • NOTE 8: Responsible approaches to data sharing

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2.5.1 The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Operational Guidance on Data Responsibility in Humanitarian Action

What is it about ?

Data responsibility in humanitarian action is the safe, ethical and effective management of personal and non-personal data for operational response. It is a critical issue for the humanitarian system to address and the stakes are high.

This system-wide Operational Guidance on Data Responsibility – the first of its kind – was released by the IASC in February 2021 following an inclusive and consultative process involving more than 250 stakeholders from the humanitarian sector. The Guidance aims to help humanitarian actors take concrete steps for data responsibility in all phases of humanitarian action as to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits of data management. The Guidance provides a set of principles for data responsibility and a list of recommended actions at the system, cluster/sector, and organizational levels, as well as templates and tools to support the practical application of those actions.

2.5.2 Handbook on Data Protection in Humanitarian Action (ICRC)

What is it about ?

This Handbook was published as part of the Brussels Privacy Hub and ICRC’s Data Protection in Humanitarian Action project. It is aimed at the staff of humanitarian organizations involved in processing personal data as part of humanitarian operations, particularly those in charge of advising on and applying data protection standards.

The Handbook builds on existing guidelines, working procedures and practices established in humanitarian action in the most volatile environments and for the benefit of the most vulnerable victims of humanitarian emergencies. It seeks to help humanitarian organizations comply with personal data protection standards, by raising awareness and providing specific guidance on the interpretation of data protection principles in the context of humanitarian action, particularly when new technologies are employed.

2.5.3 Guidance Notes on Data Responsibility in OCHA Humanitarian Action

This series of Guidance Notes on Data Responsibility in Humanitarian Action aims to provide additional guidance on specific issues, processes, and tools for Data Responsability in practice , to complement the OCHA Guidelines on Data Responsibility and the IASC Operational Guidelines on Data Responsibility in Humanitarian Action. The notes cover topics such as statistical data disclosure controls, managing data incidents, and responsible data sharing with donors, among others.

NOTE 1: Statistical Data Disclosure Control

An overview of statistical disclosure control, a technique for reducing the risk of re-identification in the management of sensitive data from household surveys or evaluations (microdata.)

NOTE 2: Data Incident Management

How to handle data management incidents that have caused harm or are likely to cause harm.

NOTE 3: Data Responsibility in Public-Private Partnerships

Recommendations on designing responsible partnerships between humanitarian organizations and the private sector on data and technology initiatives.

NOTE 4: The ethics of humanitarian data

How to identify, assess, and manage ethical issues in data-related programs and initiatives.

NOTE 5: Data impact analysis

Guidance for humanitarians on how to decide whether to conduct a data impact assessment, with examples of data impact assessment tools.

NOTE 6: Data Responsibility in Money Transfers

An overview of the common benefits and risks related to data in money transfers, and a set of steps that money actors can take to improve Data Responsibility.

NOTE 7: Responsible Data Sharing with Funders

An overview of the objectives and constraints for sharing data with donors, and initial recommendations on how donors and humanitarian organizations can share data.

NOTE 8: Responsible approaches to data sharing

Common examples of sensitive non-personal data, and an approach to information and data sensitivity classification for humanitarian organizations.