Meeting on Cartography and Geographic Information Science UN HQ, New York March 2000 Jean Yves Bouchardy, Head GIS/Mapping Unit UNHCR Geneva

IT IS A RECENT PROCESS:IT IS A RECENT PROCESS: –Project initiated in 1994 –Creation of a Geographic/Mapping Unit in 1999 – 2 staffs and one consultant… plus consultants in the field

Entry points Refugees/IDPs Places of origin Camps HCR presence

Have obvious geographical dimensionsHave obvious geographical dimensions Are core components of UNHCR operationsAre core components of UNHCR operations but are LOST in various reporting systemsbut are LOST in various reporting systems

Address and identify the needs regarding geographical information within UNHCR operations, (especially within emergency situations)Address and identify the needs regarding geographical information within UNHCR operations, (especially within emergency situations) Provide technical support (Field and HQ)Provide technical support (Field and HQ) Improve Inter-Agency cooperationImprove Inter-Agency cooperation Increase awareness among UNHCR staffIncrease awareness among UNHCR staff

UNHCR is the lead agency regarding GIS and RS applied to refugee operationsUNHCR is the lead agency regarding GIS and RS applied to refugee operations Fully operational geographical and environmental database for Field and HQ support (i.e. refugee camps database, UNEP, FAO, etc..)Fully operational geographical and environmental database for Field and HQ support (i.e. refugee camps database, UNEP, FAO, etc..) UNHCR is a core member of the UN GIS working group (GIST). The aim of the group is to address geographic information needs and coordinate Inter- agency efforts during humanitarian operations (Kosovo/HCIC)UNHCR is a core member of the UN GIS working group (GIST). The aim of the group is to address geographic information needs and coordinate Inter- agency efforts during humanitarian operations (Kosovo/HCIC)

ENVIREF EU (Nansen Center, Norway)ENVIREF EU (Nansen Center, Norway) FRAME (FFEM)FRAME (FFEM) World Bank (DRC)World Bank (DRC) GDIN (US State Dept)GDIN (US State Dept) Technical agreement between HCR and WFP for GIS activitiesTechnical agreement between HCR and WFP for GIS activities

Development of regional GIS “coordinators” to address geographic information at field levelDevelopment of regional GIS “coordinators” to address geographic information at field level –to collect primary data needed for the operations –to reinforce geographic component whithin UNHCR programmes –to improve coordination at field level

PCode

Coordination is an essential key for successCoordination is an essential key for success Geographic information’s needs should be addressed at the earliest stage of an operation, ideally during the contingency phaseGeographic information’s needs should be addressed at the earliest stage of an operation, ideally during the contingency phase Collection of primary data, including precise geographical location of the places surveyed is crucial.. but extremely difficult to put in place..Collection of primary data, including precise geographical location of the places surveyed is crucial.. but extremely difficult to put in place.. Standardization of geographic information (Pcode) is essential to allow communication between actors (common plateform)Standardization of geographic information (Pcode) is essential to allow communication between actors (common plateform) Data Quality/Accuracy should be aimed atData Quality/Accuracy should be aimed at

COORDINATION IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS Who is Working Where in which Domain of Activity COORDINATION IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS Who is Working Where in which Domain of Activity

Database Shelter Blocks Offices CountryMap

RIVER BANK EROSION SCHOOLS

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

LOCATION OF UNHCR REFUGEE SITES AND POTENTIAL DEGRADED AREAS IN GOMA (ZAIRE) UNHCR ENVIRONMENTAL DATABASE Image SPOT. 4,3,2 date 08 / 07 / 96

FOREST DEGRADEDFOREST REFUGEECAMP

RefugeeLocations < 50km < 10 km < 5 km

Before... Now...

UPDATED AND DETAILED INFORMATION ONUPDATED AND DETAILED INFORMATION ON –INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES –ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT –VILLAGES/SETTLEMENTS (PCODES) –PLUS ADDITIONAL THEMATIC DATA...

TIMELY ACCESS TO DETAILED (25.000) AND RELIABLE DATATIMELY ACCESS TO DETAILED (25.000) AND RELIABLE DATA INTERNAL PROCESS WITHIN UN AGENCIES REGARDING PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION, STORAGE AND ANALYSES.. We need to deploy Information ManagersINTERNAL PROCESS WITHIN UN AGENCIES REGARDING PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION, STORAGE AND ANALYSES.. We need to deploy Information Managers RESOURCESRESOURCES

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION… GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION… CREATES A COMMON LANGUAGE AMONG PARTNERS (“one good map is equivalent to 1000 words”) CREATES A COMMON LANGUAGE AMONG PARTNERS (“one good map is equivalent to 1000 words”) ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND IMPROVES DATA COLLECTION PROCESSES ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND IMPROVES DATA COLLECTION PROCESSES IMPROVES COORDINATION AMONG THE ACTORS IMPROVES COORDINATION AMONG THE ACTORS ALLOWS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (keeps track of activities) ALLOWS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY (keeps track of activities)