Data that leaves no one behind in crisis response
Published on 05 October 2021
Overview
Even as a crisis situation becomes more complex, SURGE Data Hub leverages technology for primary data collection that enables risk-informed clarity in time-sensitive contexts and provides flexibility, scalability, and reusable patterns for efficient assessments.
In a crisis situation, there’s a need for real-time data to inform policy decisions that leave no one behind. This is exactly where SURGE Data Hub comes in—we support UNDP Country Offices in conducting digital assessments to collect primary data that captures valuable information about damage and/or socio-economic impact on the ground, no matter what type of crisis—conflict, disaster, climate risks, or social and economic shocks.
These digital assessments provide clarity and insights important for early recovery decision-making. Data from these assessments can be fed into the Data Futures Platform, where users across the UN system, NGOs, academia, and development partners can work together on finding solutions and strategies to get Country Offices back to the pathway they were on before crisis—with new knowledge and understanding to confront future development challenges.
SURGE Data Hub centers the human experience at the core of everything—from how assessments are designed, how data is handled, and how Country Offices are supported through the entire process.
No matter which assessment a country needs, we follow the same tried and tested process from beginning to end
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Our remote team supports COs in planning, developing, and adapting tools for data collection—with targeted technical support in local languages and contextual knowledge across five regions.
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We remotely guide COs in collecting digital data after a shock and advise on how to manage that data through applications, analysis, and visualization.
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We empower COs to initiate response, policy planning, and implementation based on real-time data with risk-informed clarity.
Socio-Economic Impact Assessment and Multidimensional Vulnerability Index
Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic continue to have devastating impacts on health, social, economic and environmental systems. In such a time, decision makers require flexible, rapid and evidence-based diagnostic tools that can inform crucial interventions and policy decisions.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has developed the Digital Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) to provide governments with comprehensive and timely information to effectively respond to the needs of affected populations and enterprises in the immediate, medium and long-term.
Housing & Building Damage Assessment
Effective and rapid restoration of these structures is one of the most complicated and important components of the recovery process. With UNDP’s Household and Building Damage Assessment (HBDA) Toolkit, authorities in crisis-affected countries can more easily assess infrastructure (residential and non-residential) and collect timely data to inform critical decisions in recovery and rehabilitation. The HBDA also enables risk-informed prioritization for more effective resource allocation in the aftermath of a crisis.
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Explore the toolkit
Advanced Analyses
A Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) helps to capture the many layers of vulnerability and facilitates a more nuanced and holistic analysis of how and why some households/enterprises are more vulnerable than others. As such, a MVI is a powerful tool which provide policymakers with an enhanced understanding for evidence-based decision making. Policies and programmes can be designed to mitigate varied and numerous factors which result in vulnerability and can assist in protecting those most at risk.