Data hacks 📐 for a future smart crisis response
Top SURGE Data Hub tips on digital data collection
🔮 #FutureSmartUNDP is more than just a mantra. It means doing things differently. Doing them smarter. And, in a transformational way. When it comes to crisis response, we need rapid and reliable primary data to work smarter and create transformation.
Enter: 🚪 the SURGE Data Hub.
Based in UNDP’s Crisis Bureau, the SURGE Data Hub is a small, global 🌎 team of data experts and economists that support UNDP country offices in collecting, analyzing and visualizing data for crisis response. They do this through two 📝 main assessments that are conducted digitally from start to finish.
People 👨👩👧👦 and infrastructure 🚧
The Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) is used to evaluate the impact of a crisis, such as COVID-19, on people and small businesses. The Household and Building Damage Assessment (HBDA) focuses on the impact of a destructive event, such as an earthquake or an explosion, on buildings 🏗️ , infrastructure and people.
Data hacks from our learnings 📑
In 2021, the SURGE Data Hub supported 30 UNDP country offices across the globe and conducted 25 post-crisis assessments. To conduct digital assessments in the aftermath of a crisis, we need to be resourceful, agile and keep the following tips in mind 🧑🏫.
Hack #1 — Pre-assessment prep
It is important to start on a collaborative 🤝🏽 note and work closely with the local stakeholders!
Hack #2 — Data collection, analysis and visualization
This step makes or breaks an assessment. Make sure you are collecting the right data 🔢, in the right format and visualizing it as early as possible.
Hack #3 — Report and disseminate
For an assessment to affect decision-making and result in effective response and recovery, it needs to reach 📢 all the right people!
