7.2 The Responsible Data Management toolkit from CALP Network for CVA practitionners

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is this about?
• Why will this resource be useful to you?
• Why is this resource particularly interesting?

What is this about?

This toolkit is dedicated to responsible data management in the humanitarian aid and development sectors, particularly in the case of cash transfer programs, which represent a significant part of all international humanitarian assistance.

Responsible data management is addressed through the lens of the data lifecycle. For each step, you will find a practical sheet with different methods to integrate responsible data management into program planning, design and implementation, as well as into MEAL activities. Some of these methods include:

• Tip-sheet 1 (project cycle stage: “Program Planning”): provides guidance on how to assess data-related context and capacity before embarking in cash transfer programming.
• Tip-sheet 2 (project cycle stage: “Design and Planning”): facilitates the development of a data collection and management plan for the overall response.
• Tip-sheet 3 (data cycle stage: “Collection”): provides guidance on how to collect high quality data or access previously collected data in a responsible manner.
• Tip-sheet 4 (data cycle stage: “Transmission and Storage”): provides tips and tools on how to mitigate risk when sharing and storing data.
• Tip-sheet 5 (data cycle stage: “Analysis and Exploitation”): provides guidance on how to achieve responsible data management, including targeting program recipients.
• Tip-sheet 6 (data cycle stage: “Sharing”): provides guidelines for sharing data responsibly while recognising that this is a contentious area that will need to be involved on a case-by-case basis depending on the context and the actors involved.
• Tip-sheet 7 (data cycle stage: “Retention and Destruction”): provides guidelines for the safe storage and destruction of data.

Why will this resource be useful to you?

• As a diagnostic or reference and planning tool for organisations to determine whether they can conduct a program safely and ethically in a particular context, taking into account the organisation’s available capacity and resources.
• To help those in charge of planning understand and budget a more responsible data approach (human and technical means, partner selection, definition of a legal basis for data processing).
• To determine how to protect the collected data, including in the case of remote or via phone collection, biometric data collection, or the introduction of digital identification systems.
• To understand and help you implement data protection means when sharing,storing, analysing or exploiting data.

Why is this resource particularly interesting?

• It makes it possible to identify the ethical and legal implications that need to be taken into account for data processing.
• It allows to objectively determine whether it is reasonable to implement a cash transfer program, taking into account the capacities and resources available to ensure responsible data management.
• It enables teams to integrate responsible data management gradually, following the data management cycle, with guidance, tools and guidelines for each stage of the cycle.
• It provides a list of tools and best practices to implement to ensure data protection throughout the data lifecycle.
• It helps determine whether it is reasonable to share certain information. For instance, the risks and benefits of sharing data with governments, in a consortium or with other partners (data sharing agreements).