The Humanitarian Profile Common Operational Dataset (COD-HP) is a dataset that seeks to account for, on an ongoing basis, the number of people having humanitarian needs arising from a given emergency. In other words, it is the “caseload figures”, or a count of the number of affected people in an emergency.
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It provides information that facilitates humanitarian planning and needs assessment
It forms the basis and reference point of any relief operation aiming to deliver aid according to the population’s needs
It includes and enables the classification of affected persons and victims into many categories, thus facilitating targeted responses
It can help humanitarian actors, local and national authorities have the same view of the people affected in a crisis
It is required throughout the HPC and is used in many OCHA products
The Humanitarian Profile COD is unique among the common operational datasets because of the dynamic nature of its data and the way its composition may vary according to the operational context and priorities of a particular group.
Initially developed at the onset of an emergency the COD-HP is focused on the number of people affected and it is based on the COD-AB and PS. As the response evolves the humanitarian community needs to understand how many people are in need of assistance and later on the number of people targeted and reached will be developed.
The Humanitarian Profile COD plays a crucial role in the development of products like the Humanitarian Snapshot, the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), Humanitarian Bulletin, and HPC Tools.
The first discussions on choosing an appropriate method of estimation, or doing the actual computation of the population figures, normally take place on a technical level between technical experts, specialized agency staff, and Information Managers. It should include and engage the Cluster Coordinators and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group, especially when final figures will be validated. An ultimate endorsement is then given by the Humanitarian Country Team.
Humanitarian Coordination (HC): The HC approves and is responsible to address political concerns regarding the Humanitarian Profile. Humanitarian Country Team (HCT): Approves the Humanitarian Profile Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG): The ICCG facilitates the process of establishing humanitarian population figures, by 1) Defining the humanitarian profile which bests represents the country context by choosing the appropriate categories, 2) Proposing a methodical approach to estimating population figures, 3) Seek implementation of the agreed approach(es), and 4) Review and update population figures, including their definitions and approaches, as humanitarian needs evolve or access to crisis-affected areas increases, and as new information becomes available Information Management Working Group (IMWG): At the onset of an emergency response in a country with existing humanitarian presence, the HCT or cluster lead working group should task the IM Network to 1) choose the humanitarian profile classes that are appropriate to the emergency and adjust definitions if needed, 2) establish geographical reference by deciding which administrative levels or another geographic reference (populated places, IDP camps, etc) will be used to disaggregate the humanitarian profile values, c) endorse methods for estimating humanitarian profile values, and d) actively promote the standard use of the Humanitarian Profile COD across all humanitarian actors |
Guidelines on the Humanitarian Profile
IASC Guidelines on the Humanitarian Profile Common Operational Dataset (2011) English | français (Main guidance document)
Humanitarian Profile Support Guidance (May 2016) (English) (Main guidance document)
Humanitarian Profile Visuals (2014) English | français (This guidance is intended for colleagues who are tasked with estimating humanitarian population figures and are facilitating, or participating, in joint analysis, planning and response monitoring)
Humanitarian Profile Best Practices
Yemen: Humanitarian Needs Overview Data (2022)
Humanitarian Profile (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States) Data (2022)
Libya: Humanitarian Needs Overview (2022) English
Nepal Earthquake: Number of People in Need (2015) English
Syria: Number of People In Need (MSNA) (2011) English
Myanmar Humanitarian Profile Data Standards (2011) English
Reference Material
Link to the population estimation background materials (on JIPS website, the material was used in a desk review. The documents indicated with ’Population estimations 1’ have been included in the 2012 desk review, the ones with ’Population estimations 2’ are the newer ones and have not been included).
Material from the development of the Support Guidance (Meeting Outputs from work in 2014)
Terms of Reference for 2015 (with milestones)