Common Operational Datasets

Humanitarian Response Intelligence

OCHA - Field Information Section (FIS)

September 28, 2021

Build a coordinated response #buildOnCODs

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In emergencies, many organizations provide relief in many different ways.

Humanitarian emergencies generate massive amounts of data.

Volume, tempo, and diversity of the inflowing information increases.

The wide range of humanitarian needs, including food, housing, health services, legal aid, interpretation and education, results in the continuous processing of information.

Data collection and processing occurs throughout the response cycle.

The exchange of information is crucial to identify needs, prevent gaps in assistance and avoid duplication.

Data are a central component of humanitarian response: don't let it be a limiting factor.

Connect to Humanitarian Intelligence: CODs

CODs are the foundation to all preparedness and response activities.

CODs are key to building a coordinated response.

By using CODs, the humanitarian world comes together to help crisis-affected people rapidly receive the humanitarian assistance and protection they need.

Data preparedness & standards

Data preparedness is the first step to informed decisions that will ultimately shape the response.

To make informed, evidence-based decisions in the first hours/days of an emergency, processes to gather, manage, analyse and share data need to be in place before a crisis.

An important development in the systematization of data preparedness was the IASC adoption of “ Common Operational Datasets ” (CODs), in 2008, revised in 2010.

Common Operational Datasets and P-codes are the authoritative reference datasets to support operations and decision-making in the initial response to a humanitarian emergency.

CHECK COUNTRY COD PREPAREDNESS

Unlock the power of humanitarian response

Foundation of preparedness and response acitivties

Core CODs are required in all disaster-prone countries as a preparedness measure: they are the first datasets used to respond in a humanitarian emergency.

CODs = First responders

Common Operational Datasets are baseline data that are adopted in country by partners.

Facilitate informed decision making

CODs provide consistency among all actors, simplify the management of key data and enable:

a common operational picture of the crisis
sharing of data
a geographic framework for data collection, analysis and visualization, through the use of P-codes (Place-codes)

Overcome challenges of linking datasets or confirming locations

P-codes are found in Administrative Boundary CODs (COD-ABs) and Population Statistics CODs (COD-PSs).

They are unique geographic identification codes, facilitating the exchange and harmonization of data and information.

When different humanitarian actors use the same P-codes their work can be compared, amalgamated and harmonized.

Using placenames as identifiers can easily lead to confusion over spelling and transliterations as well as alternative and duplicate names.

As unique identifiers, P-codes overcome the challenges of linking datasets and confirming locations.

P-codes: Unique identifiers

Administrative Boundary CODs (COD-ABs) include gazetteers - tables of names and P-codes - that can organize humanitarian assessments or responses even where maps are not required.

P-codes provide the means to manage and exchange data. They comprise a unique code for each administrative unit and populated place, together with standardised and official spelling.

Databases, spreadsheets and other data sources that comply with the P-code standard can easily be combined and analyzed.

*P-codes are unique geographic (geo) identification codes, represented by combinations of letters and/or numbers to identify a specific location or feature*

P-codes provide a systematic means of linking data to an unambiguous location. Using P-codes avoids errors caused by geographic locations having the same name or being spelled differently.

In Madagascar 81 different administrative level 4 (ADM4) features are called "Morafeno". Six of these are in ADM3 features that are also called "Morafeno" which are only distinguished by being in different ADM2 features!

Built on CODs

Humanitarian intelligence embedded throughout the reponse

CODs provide humanitarians with a unique dataset that:

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Serves as base layers for maps

Informs a common operational picture

Serves as a framework for data collection:

P-codes help organize assessments

Enables spatial analysis: allowing estimates of affected population when linked to the COD-Population Statistics.

Provides a framework in all phases of the Humanitarian Program Cycle.

#buildOnCODs

Portals - Data Services

Humanitarian Data Exchange Platform

HDX is an open platform for sharing data across crises and organisations.

Access **CODs** through https://data.humdata.org/cod or a **country page.**

Core COD Information Portal

OCHA offers an open portal for Common Operational Datasets, maximizing the possibilities for all humanitarian organizations to discover and use them and to deliver the best possible assistance.

The portal documents:

the quality of administrative boundary (COD-AB) layers and population statistics (COD-PS) tables
their availability on HDX
their availability as an ITOS live geoservices for COD-AB

It is refreshed after any COD-AB or COD-PS is added or updated.

Common Operational Datasets - UNOCHA