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Secondary data is data that was collected by someone else at an earlier time. Always start with a desk review of the information landscape, needs, barriers, and risks and draw on lessons learned from similar emergencies in the past to anticipate how information ecosystems may change. In early stages of the emergency, you might not have time to conduct a detailed data collection exercise and need to rely on existing information. If you don’t have any preparedness data you can use, it would be a good idea to still quickly build a profile of the communication environment and community profile using available public resources, and learnings from prior emergencies. (32)
| Coordination - Connect with intersectoral stakeholders to see if any information that responds to your learning questions already exists or if assessments were conducted in a preparedness phase. |
If in a preparedness phase, identify gaps in existing secondary data and take steps to fill those gaps). Data preparedness can save precious time when an emergency strikes. The more you know about the information and communication ecosystem of a community - knowing how and when people receive and share information, and anticipating how this may change during an emergency- the better you will be able to decide which communication channels and initiatives to focus on in your response. Pre-crisis data on a community’s profile, their preferred channels of communication, and the media and telecommunications environment will give you an idea about where and what support may be needed during and after an emergency.
Table 6. Common Assessments Where You May Find Relevant Secondary Data
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Cross-cutting response data | Intersectoral needs assessments (for example, Rapid Protection Analysis), context analysis, emergency preparedness plans, scenario projections and response planning, access assessments, safety and security assessments, response capacity assessments, existing feedback from communities, etc. |
|
Information needs assessments (INA) |
To assess channels of communication available, barriers to information access, trust in information sources, information needs, preferred communication channels. Intersectoral assessments by INGOs, UN, and Media Development Organizations often ask about information needs and communication, for example in Protection Monitoring, UNICEF Social and Behavior Change (SBC) programs, or assessments by Internews, CDAC (33), or BBC Media Action (34), Emergency Telecommunications Clusters. Clear Global also hosts language maps for many countries. (35) |
| Media landscape guides | This is a report that compiles information of all communication channels and resources in a country, including information on the media and telecommunications landscape, profiles of media channels, contact details, mobile coverage, languages, and habits. Multiple guides already exist for a set of countries, or you can develop one as a valuable preparedness activity. See existing guides from CDAC here. (36) National regulatory bodies, mobile phone companies, journalist networks (e.g. unions), state radio and TV, any media development agency in country, or private sector advertisers may also have relevant information. (37) |
| Information ecosystem assessments | To assess how information is generated and flows within a community. An information ecosystem assessment may already exist in your context, or you can develop one as a valuable preparedness activity. See Internews’ guidance on Mapping Information Ecosystems to Support Resilience here (38), and samples of existing IEAs here. (39) |
| Protection analysis | To guide protection-specific situation analysis and the organization of data and information to provide an evidence-base for programming, advocacy and dialogue for the purpose of influencing behaviors and policies in support of a more favorable protection environment. See existing protection analyses here. (40) |
| Community profiles | Illustrating socio-economic characteristics, lifestyle, media consumption habits, and barriers in accessing information of target groups. If you cannot find information on how communities receive and share information, consider carrying out a community profiling exercise. See sample guidance on community profiling here. (41) |
| Gender analysis | To understand barriers and risks to safety and access, particularly for women and girls, and to develop strategies to mitigate these risks. See guidance on conducting gender analyses here. (42) |
| Stakeholder analysis | To identify the actors and relationships that influence access to responsive, relevant, accurate, information for the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of crisis-affected people, determine how to work and who to partner, coordinate or engage with in order to best achieve the outcome. Coordinate with other actors to identify existing stakeholder analyses in your context. |
| Conflict sensitivity analysis | Comprehensively analyze the dynamics of a conflict in order to design and implement projects in a conflict-sensitive way. Conflict-sensitivity analysis is about making sure any activity/service we provide is designed and delivered in a way that minimizes negative impacts (Do No Harm) and maximizes positive impacts. See guidance on conducting conflict sensitivity analyses here. (43) |
| Political economy analysis | Analyzing power relations, distribution of resources, and the role of formal and informal institutions in relation to accessing responsive, relevant, accurate, information for the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of crisis-affected people. In a preparedness phase, PEA may be used to inform emergency plans and/or to strengthen systems for information and communication. See guidance on conducting PEAs here. (44) |