Assignment Name: Assessment of Disaster and Displacement Data Collection and Information Management Capacity of the Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief

Country: Bangladesh

Client Name: International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bangladesh, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces significant challenges from both sudden and slow-onset natural hazards, which lead to widespread displacement annually. These events disproportionately impact the poorest and most marginalized populations, who face heightened vulnerability during and after displacement. While immediate relief efforts address urgent needs, they often fail to provide coordinated, multi-faceted services that support longer-term recovery and sustainable solutions. In 2019 alone, an estimated 4.1 million displacements occurred in Bangladesh, with 88,000 individuals remaining displaced, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.

The Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief (MoDMR), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has taken a leadership role in establishing a displacement management cluster. This cluster aims to ensure that displaced populations in collective centers and communal settings receive coordinated and effective multi-sectoral assistance and protection. It also emphasizes supporting durable solutions that address the underlying vulnerabilities of displaced communities.

Despite the existence of data collection efforts by government and humanitarian stakeholders, significant gaps remain in the centralized collection and management of displacement-related data. Displacement caused by disasters is not tracked systematically, nor are the evolving needs and concerns of affected populations during different stages of displacement adequately monitored. This lack of consistent, comprehensive, and timely data undermines the ability to design and implement effective responses to assist displaced individuals.

The data collected needs to flow seamlessly from the field level to decision-makers, the humanitarian community, and development partners in a timely and understandable manner. Effective information management is critical for transforming raw data into actionable insights that guide resource allocation and response planning. Recognizing these challenges, IOM initiated an assessment of the current data collection and information management ecosystem related to displacement under another broader project.

The assessment, conducted by DM WATCH LIMITED, aimed to identify systemic gaps, assess the functionality of the Disaster Management Information Center (DMIC) within MoDMR, and evaluate the roles and capacities of stakeholders involved in disaster-induced displacement data collection and management. It emphasized the importance of adopting modern technological solutions and improving data systems to enable real-time tracking of displacement, ensuring that responses are well-informed and meet the actual needs of displaced populations.

Recommendations from the assessment form the foundation for developing tools, methodologies, and systems for more effective data collection and management. These innovations were intended to be piloted in selected Upazilas or unions, creating a scalable model for improving disaster response and recovery mechanisms across Bangladesh. Through this initiative, MoDMR and IOM aimed to enhance national and local capacities to manage displacement more effectively, contributing to better protection, assistance, and durable solutions for displaced populations.

Scope of the assignment included:

• Review what displacement related data is collected, how it is collected, by whom it is collected, when and how frequently it is collected.
• Explore the functionality of DMIC (Disaster Management Information Center) and DMIC’s span of coverage for displacement related data.
• Identify the gaps, including error margins, in data collection process in terms depth, coverage and timing.
• Assess the capacity of stakeholders responsible for collection of data.
• Examine how the data and information flows from field level to central level.
• Provide concrete recommendations to improve data collection system.
• Design a new data collection system utilizing technological advancements and best practices in the area of disaster related data.
• Identifying the way of involvement of Union Digital Center (UDC), Project Implementation Office (PIO) & DMIC at upazila level and District Relief and Rehabilitation Office (DRRO) in data collection system
• Review the existing information management system of MoDMR at both Dhaka (central level) and three selected districts (decentralized level), which will include field visits to the selected districts.
• Examine data bases held by either social services or the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to identify complementarity between displacement data and existing data bases.
• Explore options of new data sources like data residing with telecom operators.
• Identify gaps of the existing system.
• Assess information management capacity of MoDMR in terms of infrastructure and human resources.
• Provide concrete recommendations to improve information management, including human and technical capacities.
• Design a new information management system and linking with National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC)
• Apply data protection principles in all of the above-mentioned points.
• Present findings/report in various workshops and seminars.

The Disaster Management Watch team, under the guidance of IOM’s technical team and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief (MoDMR), undertook a comprehensive assessment of the existing displacement-related data and information management systems in Bangladesh. Key services provided by the staff included

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:

• Conducted consultations with MoDMR officials, local disaster management committees, and other key stakeholders, including international and national NGOs, to map existing data collection processes and capacities.
• Facilitated coordination workshops to gather insights into the functionality and limitations of current systems.

Secondary Research Report:

• Reviewed national policies, disaster management plans, and existing data collection tools, including the Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) 2019, SOS forms, and D-forms.
• Examined reports from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Disaster Management Information Center (DMIC), and other relevant sources.
• Conducted an in-depth review of the types of displacement-related data currently collected, including how, by whom, and how frequently it is collected.
• Explored the functionality and coverage of the Disaster Management Information Center (DMIC) concerning displacement-related data.
• Prepared and submitted the secondary literature review report.

Primary Data Collection:

• Conducted 58 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and 4 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with stakeholders at both central and local levels.
• Collected data from high-displacement-risk areas, including Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Satkhira, and Khulna.

Gap Analysis:

• Identified gaps in the current data collection methodologies, including limitations in real-time data availability, lack of comprehensive displacement data, and inefficiencies in coordination among government entities.
• Assessed the functionality of DMIC and the capacity of local and national stakeholders to manage disaster-induced displacement data.

Data Flow and Information Management System Evaluation:

• Examined the flow of data and information from field levels to central levels, identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Reviewed the existing information management systems of MoDMR at both the central level (Dhaka) and in three selected districts, including field visits to assess on-the-ground realities.

System Design and Improvement Recommendations:

• Provided concrete recommendations for improving the existing data collection system, including the design of a new system that leverages technological advancements and best practices in disaster-related data management.
• Designed a new information management system, integrating it with the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) and ensuring its alignment with data protection principles.
• Explored the potential involvement of Union Digital Centers (UDC), Project Implementation Offices (PIO), DMIC at the upazila level, and District Relief and Rehabilitation Offices (DRRO) in the data collection process.

Integration with Existing Data Sources:

• Examined databases held by social services and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to identify complementarities with displacement data.
• Explored new data sources, including data from telecom operators, to enhance the comprehensiveness of the displacement data system.

Capacity Building and Infrastructure Assessment:

• Assessed the information management capacity of MoDMR in terms of infrastructure and human resources.
• Provided recommendations to enhance both human and technical capacities, ensuring the system’s sustainability and effectiveness.

Development of Recommendations:

• Proposed the integration of modern data collection technologies, such as ODK-based mobile applications, to enhance the efficiency and reliability of data collection.
• Recommended the establishment of a centralized database linking MoDMR’s systems with other national databases, such as those of BBS, for greater data complementarity.
• Suggested the creation of a standard operating procedure for collecting and managing displacement data.

Capacity Building and Validation:

• Organized a national-level validation workshop to present findings and gather feedback from stakeholders.
• Provided capacity-building recommendations to improve human and technical resources for data management at MoDMR and its associated entities.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Prepared a comprehensive report detailing the assessment findings, gap analysis, and recommendations.
• Delivered tools and methodologies for piloting improved data collection systems in selected Upazilas.

This comprehensive assessment provided a roadmap for enhancing MoDMR’s data collection and information management systems, ensuring more effective disaster response and support for displaced populations in Bangladesh.