INFORM Subnational Risk Assessment

Owned by Janet
Last updated: Feb 04, 2021 by FIS
2 min read

Introduction to INFORM Subnational Risk Assessment

INFORM has developed an open source risk assessment methodology for humanitarian crises and disasters. An INFORM Subnational Risk Assessment shows a detailed picture of risk and its components that is comparable across a single region or country. It can be used by decision-makers to analyse and visualise risk. The model can support decisions on crisis and disaster response, preparedness, and resilience, as well as sustainable development.

How it works

An INFORM Subnational Risk Model combines and simplifies a lot of information about crisis and disaster risk using a composite risk index. It includes data on hazards and exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity and allows you to compare the level of risk and all of its components across a region or country. The geographical resolution of the model will vary depending on data availability, but it is at least Admin Level 1 (province) and can be higher (municipality, village).

An INFORM Subnational Risk Model can help you identify at-risk areas and determine the major driving factors of risk, which can help you decide how to manage it. The results are therefore a valuable input into any analysis that will support planning or resource allocation processes. Because the development is collaborative and the results are open, it is particularly useful in supporting any decision-making process that involves a wide range or large number of actors, for example strategic humanitarian, development or government planning.

Development process

The development of an INFORM Subnational model is initiated and lead by local or regional actors. In other words, by one or a coalition of actors working to manage the risk of humanitarian crises and disasters, or to plan for risk-informed development. They could be from government, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations or any other relevant group. For example, the development of INFORM Subnational models so far has been led by regional organisations, OCHA, UN Resident Coordinators and UN agencies.

A key part of the development process is consultation and collaboration with many different actors, so many organisations can contribute to the process and benefit from the outcomes. The basic process involves taking the conceptual framework used to measure risk in the INFORM Global Risk Index, adapting it to the local context and identifying existing subnational level data to measure risk.

Resources and support

INFORM has developed a guidance and online training package for those interested in developing an INFORM Subnational Risk Model.

For more info: contact@inform-index.org; Andy Thow, OCHA FIS thow@un.org