Working Groups

Working Groups | Panel 1 | Panel 2 | Panel 3 | Panel 4

Working Group 1: Protection Information

This working group looked at the challenges for humanitarian action with regards to protection and human security of civilians and field staff. It examined how protection information can be shared more effectively and more efficiently. It looked at protection issues in natural disasters and what best practices can be applied to complex crises. The working group also considered lessons learned from the various protection initiatives created in humanitarian operations, and recommended ways analysis can improve protection in humanitarian programmes. Outcomes of the working group included the identification of best practices and lessons learned in relation to the collection, analysis and tracking of protection information; key issues surrounding protection information; recommendations on how this information can be shared more effectively and efficiently among the humanitarian community; and proposed common standards that can be applied to protection information.

Working Group 2: Humanitarian Information Exchange in the Field

This working group reviewed humanitarian information sharing and exchange by organisations operating in the field, and made recommendations on ways to strengthen partnerships. It shared best practices from the field on managing information within the reform environment, and on meeting both operational and strategic information needs of decision makers within and across sectors/clusters. The group examined relevant case studies, with particular focus on recent operations implementing the cluster approach. Outcomes included highlighting best practices, key issues and lessons learned in humanitarian information field exchange. The group also recommended ways to strengthen the cluster approach through improved information management capacity in future operations.

Working Group 3: Humanitarian Financing Supported by Information and Analysis

This working group reviewed the role of information in supporting the effective mobilisation of resources from a wide range of sources needed to provide timely, appropriate, and impartial humanitarian assistance to populations coping with crises and disasters. The group considered critical information needs for facilitating strategic and operational decision making by affected governments, donor governments, philanthropic organisations and others, as well as how better to promote information exchange among humanitarian organisations regarding humanitarian financing. Furthermore, it shared best practices and lessons learned on the use of information to support humanitarian financing both at the global and field level and identified opportunities for increased cooperation among affected governments, donor governments and other donors, humanitarian organisations and information practitioners.

Working Group 4: Innovation to Improve Humanitarian Action

This working group examined the potential of emerging technologies and approaches used in the field and globally to strengthen information sharing, coordination and decision-making. Collaborative and networking software, Geographic Information Systems and satellite imagery, and the latest analytical tools were explored in both current practice and future prospects for field-based information exchange among humanitarian partners. Outcomes of this working group included recording best practices, innovative tools and products that support humanitarian information sharing and coordination, identifying lessons learned on the application of new technologies and approaches, reviewing key issues surrounding such innovations, and recommendations for establishing information sharing standards among the humanitarian community.

Working Group 5: Communications to Affected Communities in Crisis

This working group looked at the information needs of affected populations both during emergencies and in longer term recovery efforts. The group’s aim was to evaluate the nature of these needs, to identify actions necessary to achieve operational reality, and to consider the strategies required to integrate beneficiary communications into the humanitarian response framework, particularly through the opportunities offered by the current reform process. Outcomes included identifying priorities based on collective best practice, making recommendations for commonly agreed standards across the humanitarian sector, clarifying operational needs required to meet these standards, and weighing beneficiary communications against the existing information and advocacy capacity of the humanitarian sector.