Annual Results Report 2012-2013

The project aims to provide the humanitarian community and relevant government actors with effective methods for capturing, reporting, sharing, and analyzing information concerning the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The project's overall goal is to provide a common operating picture concerning humanitarian coordination and security. To achieve this goal, the project has several objectives, including improving the safety and security of humanitarian field operators, enhancing and integrating current databases of humanitarian projects and activities, providing a common operating picture of humanitarian data and baseline indicators of the humanitarian situation, identifying hazardous areas and populations-at-risk, and improving currently available datasets. iMMAP, the organization implementing the project, has a primary strength in its ability to work closely with partners to analyze their existing data sets, suggest improvements to data collection, integrate partner's data with existing humanitarian information, and provide advisory services to improve information management practices. iMMAP's services allow organizations to ultimately plan and implement more effective programs by ensuring that situational awareness and a common operating picture are integrated with the effective identification of the population's needs, as well as previous interventions. One of the key tools used by iMMAP to achieve the project's objectives is the OASIS software platform. OASIS allows multiple users in different locations to instantly share the same data sets, enhanced by maps and reports. iMMAP has maintained its OASIS system in Afghanistan since 2009 and has installed the software and trained staff in numerous organizations. Offices that use OASIS directly benefit from use of the system, and greater advantages are realized when an agency integrates OASIS with their own operational data and planning parameters. In addition to offering the OASIS platform, iMMAP also distributes hard-copy maps to assist with planning, analysis, and operations. During the reporting period, 876 printed maps were distributed to over 50 organizations, 183 new maps were produced, and 127 digital maps were made available on websites such as iMMAP, OCHA, and/or the clusters. The project has provided information management support to several Cluster groups directly involved in relief operations and the inter-cluster coordination mechanism. The Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) has benefited from iMMAP support, including the production of maps indicating potential flood scenarios and the areas and populations potentially affected. iMMAP has also continued to participate in both the Early Warning Information Working Group and the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group of the FSAC and provided maps and information products reflecting current events, trends, and affected populations. The Protection Cluster has also benefited from iMMAP support, including the development and maintenance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Population and Movement Tracking (PMT) database. iMMAP has also provided extensive analytical and mapping support to the IOM Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) database, which is used by IOM to record information about natural disaster events and IDPs. The Education Cluster has also benefited from iMMAP support, including the development and analysis of cluster indicators for the 2014 CHAP, which was subsequently cancelled in September 2013. iMMAP has also developed and led the MoE/Save the Children school mapping training of trainers and provided maps and advisory services to Save the Children regarding their DRR for schools program. The WASH Cluster has also benefited from iMMAP support, including the development of analysis and mapping products for the Cluster. Overall, the project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives and has provided valuable support to the humanitarian community in Afghanistan.