An Introduction to Interoperability (what does interoperability mean, and why is interoperability important for Humanitarian and Development actors?)

The Donor Cash Forum (DCF) recently published a Common Donor Statement and Guiding Principles on Interoperability of Data Systems in Humanitarian Cash Programming. This document outlined the DCF’s ten guiding principles on data interoperability in cash programming are relevant across the spectrum of the sector and sub-sector programming along the Humanitarian Development-Peace Nexus.

In subsequent blog articles, I will investigate this declaration, what the guiding principles entail, and what these assertions signify for the humanitarian and development systems. But first, I thought it would be useful to examine the word Interoperability and why it has become more crucial for both humanitarian and development players.

An introduction to Interoperability, what does interoperability mean?

The term "interoperability" has been around for a while, being first used in the military context, where it referred to the ability of a weapon system or military vehicle to work with other weapons or vehicles. The term has since been used in many contexts, including computer science, information technology, linguistics, and international relations.

In the digital era it has been given a new meaning, being defined as the ability of different systems, components, or applications to work together. Interoperability is a key requirement for many applications. For example, interoperable data formats allow different software packages to exchange data without any loss of information. Interoperable computer systems allow users to share data and work together on a project.

Data interoperability & Systems Interoperability

Data interoperability and systems interoperability are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings. Data interoperability is the ability of different data sets to be combined and analyzed together. Systems interoperability is the ability of different systems to work together.

Data interoperability is important because it allows for the exchange of information between different systems. It also helps with data quality by making sure that all pieces of information are accurate and up-to-date. Data interoperability can be achieved by using data standards and data models.

Systems interoperability is the ability of two or more systems to exchange information and to use the information that has been exchanged. The term may also refer to the ability of two or more systems to work together. The interoperability of a system can be described in terms of its technical properties, such as its data formats, communication protocols, programming languages, and so on. Interoperability may also be described in terms of functional properties, such as its ability to exchange data with other systems for a specified purpose.

System interoperability is crucial because it enables disparate systems to collaborate and exchange data. This implies that if one system requires data from another, it will be able to get it without having to request it again. Interoperability is important because it enables for more efficient and effective resource use. It also makes it easy to integrate new systems into an existing system.

Why is data interoperability important for Humanitarian and Development actors?

The humanitarian sector is one of the most data-driven industries in the world. Data is used to identify needs, allocate resources, and measure progress. It is also a key tool for accountability and transparency.

The interoperability of data is critical for humanitarian and development organizations. The capacity to mix and utilize disparate data sets together allows actors to access data from several sources in meaningful ways, enabling them to better coordinate their efforts, communicate information, and make better decisions. It also helps them avoid data collecting duplication, which may be costly and time-consuming.

Data interoperability is a key component of the UN’s Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) initiative. The HDX is a global data platform that aims to improve the quality, timeliness and accessibility of humanitarian data. The HDX initiative has been in operation since 2012 and has been instrumental in providing access to data for humanitarian actors. The HDX has also helped to improve coordination between humanitarian actors by providing them with a common platform for exchanging information.

However, despite this work there remains significant challenges to interoperability in the humanitarian sector. The lack of common standards and formats for data exchange has led to a fragmented landscape where information cannot be easily shared between organizations or even within organizations.

The lack of interoperability between data sets is a major challenge for humanitarian actors as it can lead to misallocation of resources and duplication of work.

The common challenges for data interoperability for humanitarian and development actors are as follows:

- Lack of a common language to communicate and share data.

- Data is not always available in a usable format.

- Data is not always accurate or up to date.

- Data is often too complex for the intended user.

- Lack of data sharing agreements between organizations.

The humanitarian sector is a complex ecosystem with many players and stakeholders. While data interoperability is essential for the efficient and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance, there is a cost to enabling this interoperability, and the risk that if data is made easily sharable, then confidential or sensitive data may be leaked causing harm.

In order to achieve data interoperability, incentives are needed to encourage data sharing among different actors. The lack of incentives has been identified as one of the main barriers to achieving interoperability in the humanitarian response, as without it, the costs in time and money of creating the standards and data sharing agreements prevent meaningful work from being undertaken.

Why is systems interoperability important for Humanitarian and Development actors?

Interoperability is the ability of two or more systems to exchange data with one another. It is important for humanitarian actors because it allows them to share information and collaborate with other organizations.

The World Food Programme (WFP) uses a database management system called EMIS to store and manage data about food distribution. EMIS has an interoperability module that allows it to connect with other databases, such as those from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This means that WFP can use UNHCR’s data on refugees in order to better target food distribution.

There are many databases and management systems that are used by humanitarian actors. These systems are not interoperable with each other, which makes it difficult for the actors to share information and data.

This lack of interoperability between systems can be a challenge for humanitarian actors when they need to refer people in need between agencies .

The expense of integration and the heterogeneity of humanitarian actors are two main problems related with system interoperability.

A humanitarian actor may be reluctant or unable to afford interoperability for a variety of reasons. For example, there might be an issue with internal resources and capacity, or there could be a lack of desire for investment since the organization is not externally supported. Cooperation, incentives, and money may assist overcome system interoperability hurdles. Collaboration among participants from different contexts may reduce the cost of integration while also rewarding investment in such an effort. Governments and international organizations may increase financing for system integration initiatives in order to reduce these barriers while increasing incentives for system development.

In conclusion

To summarize, interoperability is critical for humanitarian and development players. It is critical that all stakeholders have access to the information they need to make educated choices. The globe is getting more linked. This is true not just for the digital world, but also for the actual one. With this in mind, it is critical to consider how we can ensure that humanitarian and development actors can collaborate in ways that benefit everyone.

This is a critically important topic that I will be exploring in future blog posts and one in which I welcome input and discussion.