Afghanistan Information Sharing Protocol, May 2023

OVERVIEW

This Information Sharing Protocol (ISP) is designed to support data responsibility -- the safe, ethical, and effective management of data - within the Afghanistan humanitarian response. It establishes a common framework for information and data exchange on the basis of a collective data and information sensitivity classification.

This ISP covers all operational data and information management activities in the Afghanistan humanitarian response. For the purpose of this protocol, ‘information’ refers to both raw data and the information products developed from it. This ISP applies to all humanitarian actors present in and supporting response activities in Afghanistan, including United Nations (UN) entities, other international organizations, international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), third parties, and other relevant stakeholders.

The ISP has been developed through a collective exercise led by the Inter-Cluster Coordination Team (ICCT) and the Information Management Working Group (IMWG) in accordance with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Operational Guidance on Data Responsibility. It was endorsed by the Afghanistan Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in May 2023 as part of broader efforts to advance collective accountability in the response.

In this context, this ISP serves as the primary document governing data and information sharing in the Afghanistan humanitarian response. It complements existing policies and guidelines and does not in any way affect or replace obligations contained in applicable legal and regulatory frameworks, cluster and AoR-specific protocols, or organizational policies, particularly regarding sharing personal data. The ISP will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis through a collaborative process overseen by the ICCT and IMWG, and subject to review and endorsement by the HCT.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose and objectives of responsible data and information sharing include:

• Improved protection and response to affected populations, including data protection, particularly for vulnerable groups including women and girls, members of ethnic and religious minorities, and individuals at heightened risk.

• Supporting timely and robust situation analysis and needs assessments, delivery of assistance, response monitoring and reporting by all actors, including in support of the IASC Monitoring Framework.

• Improved collaboration and coordination to better leverage limited resources.