Relief Applications

NRC - Information Management Handbook

Information Management has been recognised for decades as central to humanitarian and development work, yet there remains widespread uncertainty about what IM actually means and how to realise its potential. NRC, with Relief Applications, set out to consolidate existing knowledge into a practical IM Handbook.

Client
NRC
When
Jan–Jun 2025
Team
1 person
Services
Info management & MEAL
Technologies
Gitbook
Industry
Humanitarian Aid & International Development
SDGs
2. Zero hunger, 3. Good health and well-being, 4. Quality education, 6. Clean water and sanitation
Client website
nrc.no

Information Management (IM) emerged over two decades ago as a relevant subject for humanitarian and development actors. Recognizing the potential of IM to enhance organizational processes and facilitate decision-making, various tools, guides, and frameworks have been developed. Nonetheless, there remains a widespread lack of understanding about what IM means exactly and how its potential can be harnessed. Therefore, NRC, in collaboration with Relief Applications, develops an IM Handbook that consolidates existing knowledge and provides practical as well as strategic guidance on IM practices and standards. While IM can theoretically cut across an entire organisation, the scope of the handbook is limited to data required to implement and steer programmes.

In addition to clarifying terminologies and introducing the fundamentals of IM, the objective of the handbook is twofold:

(1) To direct senior program management towards adequate IM planning and resourcing (e.g. in terms of required personnel and technical capacities), and

(2) To guide program staff towards the adoption of IM practices that align with global, sectoral or organization-specific standards (e.g. in terms of naming conventions).

As such, the handbook addresses two audiences at complementary levels, contributing to a shared understanding of IM and a more strategic approach towards its implementation.

Led by NRC in collaboration with Relief Applications, a working group with a broad range of humanitarian actors was established to consolidate efforts and combine existing resources.

The challenge

  • Tools, guides, and frameworks for Information Management have been developed but are fragmented and organisation-specific.
  • A broad range of existing resources had to be integrated and content harmonized to adjust the style and tone of the IM Handbook.

What we did

  • A working group with participation from 14 humanitarian actors was established to consolidate efforts, avoid duplication and integrate existing resources.
  • A Custom GPT was created for working group members to facilitate the review of existing resources, as well as the structuring of information and the harmonization of the style and tone of texts.
Information Management Handbook, NRC: screen 1 Information Management Handbook, NRC: screen 2 Information Management Handbook, NRC: screen 3 Information Management Handbook, NRC: screen 4 Information Management Handbook, NRC: screen 5 Information Management Handbook, NRC: screen 6

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