National requirements for information analysis

1. 6 December 2010 National requirements for information analysis

2. Overview presentation • PPDRM outcomes • DIMS outcomes • Update on work up to today • Next steps • Where they start and why they start here OBJECTIVE: Derive the substantive content for the 2011 Information ManagmentWorking Group workplan

3. From the PPRDRM in August 2010 OBJECTIVES • Increase understanding of the exact nature of the support that National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) get in-country from the Government, NGOs, regional organisations, UN et al • Clearly define the expectations RDMs have of international, regional and national support agencies • Identify areas where ‘institutional strengthening‘ is required • Identify skill gaps and personal capacity development needsDIMS outcomes OUTCOMES: • Coordination of DRM stakeholders incountry to ensure there is no duplication of effort and better use of resources in the implementation of DRM initiatives. • Pacific countries need to significantly improve access to more accurate baseline data and information to support disaster management, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives. • Regional and international donors and partners to explore existing and new mechanisms to support institutional strengthening and capacity building to NDMOs, other key national agencies, civil society and private sector within Pacific countries and territories. • Technology was recognised as an important part of capacity building.

4. From the DIMS workshop in Sept 2009 OBJECTIVES • Identify the status quo of information management in Fiji • Present various information management initiatives and tools that may help • Draw up recommendations as to how to go forward OUTCOMES: • Highlighted need for MoU’s with partner agencies for information and capacity sharing during emergencies • Collect baseline information • Streamline joint assessments

5. Work done until today • Under the DIMS: provision of IT hardware to Fiji NDMO • Support for technical staff and hardware within Solomon Islands NDMO • Collection of baseline data in Cook Islands (FERN), Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji (work still ongoing to finalize datasets) • Joint multi-sector assessment forms being developed in Papua New Guinea (DMT) and Solomon Islands (IRA cluster) • PHT web presence for information sharing and dissemination • Explored intra-governmental working capacities in Cook Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, PNG, Solomon Islands

6. Enough basics, lets move on • Information Management Cycle: • Collection • Data • Analysis ?? • Application ?? • Support to decision making ?? What are we missing? • Data needs to be transformed into information through analysis • As we collect more and more data, using specialized tools, that transformation is carried out by a technician • However, the technicians are on loan from non disaster related agencies • Analysis is late • Or poor quality • Or non reliable • To move on, these technicians need to be trained

7. Lessons learned from Solomon Islands Tsunami Simulation • Even with qualified GIS staff, maps are not easily forthcoming • GIS staff from non disaster related agencies find it difficult to pre-suppose in a reliable way the questions that will be asked of them • Technical staff often over-estimate their capacity to produce rapid analysis, and under-estimate the time needed to deliver exactly what is needed for decision making • Prepositioned data needs to be in a format familiar to GIS staff and in such a way that suits the analysis which is need • Particular data operations are required to transform baseline data into information needed – these operations are not well known • Without a script detailing IM products which are needed, when, for whom, then IM products cannot be included in the decision making process

8. So how do we move forward • OCHA in 2011 will strive to work through the Information Management Working group in collaboration with the GIS user group to strengthen in-country GIS capacities to respond to targeted requests from NDMOs • This requires: • Deciding what decisions are to be supported by which IM products and what stages of a disaster (timeframe) • Identifying who will most likely be doing this, and building their capacity to react, deliver and anticipate requests

9. Which standard Info Mgt products are needed when, and in which format ? • 2 scenarios: • Tropical Cyclone • Distant Tsunami • 3 Phases: • Warning • Immediate onset(first 24-48hrs) • Response(past 49hrs)

10. Three groups (one for each phase)

11. Thank you