2nd Workshop on Decision Makers Information Needs

May 28th, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway


OUR AIM: Ensure that the tools and approaches developed in research on humanitarian decision-making address the needs of the responders. 

AGENDA 
Investigate and agree ways forward on the proposal to
  1. Establish a standby research task force for real time evaluation and analysis
  2. Establish a global expert network for disaster response
  3. Establish an Education, training and learning network
Full_Workshop_Agenda_May28th
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Please contact us on contact@disasterlab.org if you would like to join us on May 28th in Norway!
STANDBY RESEARCH TASK FORCE (SRTF)
  • Develop capacity for on-site and remote support for real-time evaluation, analysis and adaptation
  • Develop joint research methodologies geared towards eliciting and understanding the specific information needs and requirements for sensemaking and decision making in disasters.
By building a standby research task force, we will develop procedures that enable small and agile teams of researchers to join aid agencies and deploy to the field when requested. The standby research task force will consist of handpicked specialists with complementary backgrounds in decision making. Teams will always be lead by an experienced field researcher, and where possible include a junior researcher to allow him or her to gain first experience in the field, thus facilitating future capacity building.

GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN RESEARCH EXPERTS CLUSTER (GEC)
The SRTF coordinates a global cluster of experts who are developing methods and tools that enable rapid analyses and recommendations to improve sensemaking and decision support in disasters. GEC aims at developing comparable concepts of to evaluate information products; decision support systems and processes that can quickly be adapted to a given context. The concepts shall enable the identification of hotspots, risk drivers and possible interventions as the situation unfolds. 


The work at GEC will focus on the complex interactions between (1) the disaster event, (2) the technical installations, facilities, and infrastructures, and (3) the societal structures, institutions and capacities.

By combining the field work of the SRTF with continuous efforts in research and development in the GEC, we  will continue to enhance the development of research methods, and ensure that tools and systems are embedded in the practice of disaster response.

HUMANITARIAN EDUCATION, TRAINING AND LEARNING NETWORK (ETLN)

The SRTF and GEC will build an Education, Training and Learning Network to provide ongoing education, training and learning grounded in field experience.  This will include:
  • Education of students (Master, PhD), including contributions in disaster management (internships, volunteers)
  • Obtaining resources to support the co-design of disaster simulations and games to include researchers in the simulations and provide a platform for early testing of innovative tools and technologies
  • Fostering a learning environment for practitioners, researchers and students that brings lessons learned from disaster response in the field into open discussions leading to innovation.
DHN Endorsement
People will try to assist in the aftermath of an emergency.  If digital humanitarians know there will be a surge in remote capacity, it is up to us to best guide these volunteers in a practical manner.  Data identification, collection, cleaning, analysis, or visualization for its own use is limited.  However, when directed to address specific field information needs this surge in capacity dramatically decreases time to valuable information when time is essential.  Any guidelines that can help direct digital humanitarian capacity to better match field information needs is strongly supported.

Roxanne Moore
DHN Ebola Coordinator

Background & History
This workshop is building on the contributions of many researchers and practitioners. In the background document below, we provide a list of the most important documents and projects. If you have any additions, please contact us on contact@disasterlab.org
DMN_background.pdf
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Special Thanks! This workshop is supported by the Strengthening Information Infrastructure for Emergency Management (SIIEM) project