Initiatives
OCHA ... ReliefWeb ... HDX

ReliefWeb Labs Launches Humanitarian Data Exchange

Burgess COMMENTARY

I am not sure whether I am absolutely delighted or really pissed off at this initiative. It seems on the one hand to be something that ought to have been done 20 years ago, and while long overdue ... better late than never. Sadly, my guess is that this initiative has a structure (especially financing) that will almost certainly cause it to fail quite quickly, just as other initiative to do similar things have failed over the last half century. I would like to help, but if past experience is anything to go by ... my contribution may well not be what the current set of participants wants to hear. Maybe, on the other hand, the technology has now reached the stage where it will be relatively easy to get at the data that are really needed to manage what needs to be managed. I wish you well ... and to the extent I am able to help, I will be happy to do so. Peter Burgess - TrueValueMetrics Multi Dimension Impact Accounting

ReliefWeb Labs Launches Humanitarian Data Exchange By Andrew Kobylinski, Product Marketing / Communications Officer In October 2013, ReliefWeb and OCHA ran a survey to understand the data needs and perceptions of the humanitarian community. Almost 3,500 people responded, with the majority based in Africa and working for an NGO. The survey found that ReliefWeb users regularly do analysis with humanitarian data, but the data is hard to find, difficult to compare and not always trustworthy or timely. To address these challenges, ReliefWeb Labs is launching Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX). The HDX project aims to make humanitarian data easy to find and use for analysis, making it easier for information actors to carry out their work. The main deliverable will be a new humanitarian data platform, aligned with ReliefWeb and other field sites. The platform will have two components: a data-set repository and a managed database of high-value data to compare across countries and crises. Three countries—Colombia, Kenya and Yemen—will take part in the field pilots. The HDX project is working towards a future where humanitarian data is available in real time, on any device and from any location, so that Governments, aid agencies and affected people can all work from a common operating picture. HDX design values—co-created, user centred, interoperable, simple and sustainable—will help make this scenario a reality. Throughout 2014, the HDX team will release early versions of the platform for feedback. ReliefWeb encourages you to find out more and join the conversation by visiting hdx.rwlabs.org.