Data collection in humanitarian response


/ December 22, 2014

This section offers guidelines that ensure at a minimum that the collection of data performed in a humanitarian setting is socially valuable, participants are treated fairly and with dignity, and the participants’ interests are protected.

Three basic principles of particular relevance to the ethics of data collection involving human participants are: respect, do no harm, and non-discrimination. These guidelines designed to be used when dealing with vulnerable populations such as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, who often lack effective protection from their state. As such, they have little legal recourse if their rights are violated as participants in information collection.

Where this comes from: This guide was produced by members of InterAction’s Protection Working Group, whose aim is to enhance the capacity of humanitarian actors in the protection of refugees, internally displaced persons and civilians affected by conflict.
Status: This resource is complete and ready for use.

About the contributor

Maya is an interdisciplinary technologist, researcher and improvisational electronic musician based in Berlin. In 2012, she worked with Development Seed, building websites and interactive maps. Later, she worked as a research assistant for Gabriella Coleman investigating the politics of hackers, and as a radio show host for a feminist, artist-run centre. She is now working with organizations of all sizes to influence their security culture, in addition to managing and developing new internal tech processes for a distributed organization.

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