UN OCHA to establish global humanitarian data centre in The Netherlands by 2017

Making the Invisible Visible: A short film about humanitarian data. The film was released at World Humanitarian Summit 2016.

OCHA is establishing a Centre for Humanitarian Data in the Netherlands for an initial three year period, from 2017-2019. The vision is to create a future where all people involved in a humanitarian situation have access to the data they need, when and how they need it, to make responsible and informed decisions.

New › centre.humdata.org
Handout Dec 2016 › Centre for Humanitarian Data (PDF)
Overview Sep 2016 › Humanitarian Data Center (PDF)

Istanbul, 23 May 2016: The use of data will be a key determinant of humanitarian effectiveness in the 21st century. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is therefore establishing a global humanitarian data centre in the Netherlands, to be operational from early 2017. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

The centre was announced during a side event on ‘The Future of Humanitarian Data’ at the World Humanitarian Summit 2016 in Istanbul. It is a concrete contribution toward one of the core commitments in the Secretary-General’s Agenda for Humanity – changing the way we work to end need.

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Timeline

MAY 2016
World Humanitarian Summit
OCHA and the Netherlands announced their intention to establish a new Centre for Humanitarian Data in The Hague as a concrete commitment towards the Agenda for Humanity.

OCTOBER 2016
Design Workshop in The Hague
Over forty partners came together to give feedback on the Centre’s business plan and to explore areas of collaboration.

NOVEMBER 2016
Design Workshop in New York
Over twenty-five partners met to think through various aspects of the Centre’s business plan and to explore areas of collaboration.

MARCH 2017
Centre for Humanitarian Data in The Hague
An initial team is based in The Hague to set up the Centre and begin working with partners.

AUGUST 2017
The Humanity Hub Opens
The city of The Hague establishes the Humanity Hub, a collaborative space for groups working on data and innovation in the social sector.

OCTOBER 2017
Official Launch of the Centre
Public event to formally launch the Centre for Humanitarian Data within the Humanity Hub in The Hague.