About the Global Symposium+5

Global Symposium +5 built upon the Symposium on Best Practices in Humanitarian Information Exchange in 2002, and subsequent regional workshops in Bangkok (September 2003), Panama (August 2005) and Nairobi (May 2006). The recommendations from these workshops have provided an opportunity to identify regional and national best practices and preferences in information management and exchange. They have further reinforced the need for attention to the promotion of standards on user requirements, quality of information, tools, technology, and strong partnerships. The set of Information Management Principles first endorsed at Symposium 2002 are now recognised as standards for the collection, processing and dissemination of humanitarian information. In 2006, in support of humanitarian reform, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee agreed to ensure integration of information management practices throughout the cluster system. It made 10 recommendations to this effect upon which some significant work has started. It is within this context, and with a view to following up on the recommendations from Symposium 2002 and subsequent workshops, that the concept for a Global Symposium +5 was developed.