Data Grids

A structured view of data availability across active humanitarian crises.

The Data Grids cover the majority of countries with a Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP). They can be accessed via the Data Grid overview or directly via the individual location pages (e.g. Afghanistan, Yemen).

Afghanistan Data Grid

Data in the Data Grids

The Data Grids place the most important crisis data into six categories: affected people; coordination and context; food security, nutrition and poverty; geography and infrastructure; health and education; and climate. Within each category, there are various sub-categories. For example, within the affected people category, there are sub-categories for internally displaced people, refugees, and returnees, among others.

The Data Grid overview page provides a summary of data availability across contexts, while country specific datasets (such as population statistics, administrative boundaries, people in need, infrastructure, etc) can be accessed through the individual country pages.

The Data Grids inform the yearly State of Open Humanitarian Data report published by the Centre for Humanitarian Data.

‘Data availability’ measurement

In the Data Grids, ‘availability’ is presented as a percentage. This refers to the proportion of sub-categories in which data is available and up-to-date.

Data Availability

In the example above we can see that this country’s data grid availability is 55%. This means that 55% include data that is relevant, comprehensive and up to date. A further 40% of the categories include data that is available but not up to date and, for 4% subcategories, data is unavailable.

There are three criteria that determine whether a dataset is included in the data grids:

1. The dataset satisfies the sub-category definition (which can be accessed by hovering over the sub-category title)
2. The dataset is disaggregated beyond the national level
3. The dataset uses common formats.

When a dataset meets these three criteria, and is up to date, it is marked as ‘available and up to date’. If the dataset meets the criteria, but is not up-to-date, then it will be marked as ‘not up-to-date’. If no relevant dataset is available for a sub-category, the sub-category is marked as 'unavailable'.

The small square to the left of the dataset name indicates if the dataset is up to date (dark blue) or not-up-to-date (light blue). Hovering on a ‘not-up-to-date’ dataset name will display comments about the limitations of the dataset, if available.

The grids include some datasets labeled as 'complementary.' These are included because they provide valuable context for understanding a context. They do not count toward the percentage of category availability.

Where sub-categories are not relevant in a given country, they are marked as ‘not applicable’. Likewise, if data cannot be shared on HDX based on the data and information sensitivity classification outlined in the respective country’s Information Sharing Protocol (ISP), the sub-category will be as ‘not applicable’.

Data Grid category definitions

There are six data grid categories:

1. Affected People: Data about the people affected by a crisis.
2. Coordination & Context: Core data relating to the coordination of humanitarian activities in a country or crisis and an understanding of the context in which humanitarian activities are taking place.
3. Food Security, Nutrition & Poverty: Data about a population’s access to food, key nutrition indicators and poverty rates.
4. Geography & Infrastructure: Data describing the administrative divisions as well as populated places and key physical geography and infrastructure.
5. Health & Education: Data describing health and education facilities.
6. Climate: Current and historical data about climate hazards and impact.

If you have feedback on the data grids, please reach out to the HDX team on [e-mail].