Policy Markers and humanitarian activities - advice needed

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Hello

When activities centre on humanitarian responses, how have people included the Policy Marker codes?

I know that there is also a Policy Marker Vocabulary, so this function could utilise other codes, but specifically - does anyone have experience of using the OECD DAC derived policy markers in humanitarian settings, or is it just not applicable?

I’d be interested in feedback from Dutch colleagues, as I had understood Policy Markers were advocated for --> Pelle Aardema Herman van Loon Rolf Kleef

There’s no reference to Policy Markers in the latest version of guidance around humanitarian data & IATI --> Wendy Rogers

Comments (9)

Yohanna Loucheur • 5 years ago

Did you check Canada’s (GAC) data? I know we use at least the Gender Equality marker, not sure about other markers. Happy to liaise with humanitarian aid colleagues if you have questions.

Wendy Rogers • 5 years ago

Hi Steven Flower use of policy markers is not a topic that has specifically come up as part of any of the recent consultations that we have had in relation to publishing humanitarian information. However, we were at one time, in discussions with a donor who had their own set of humanitarian related policy markers and so consideration was given to adding it as a discrete Policy Marker Vocabulary although it didn’t get taken forward to implementation at that time.

Pelle Aardema • 5 years ago

Hi Steven Flower ,
Not all the markers seem relevant for humanitarian activities, but neither are all the ‘other’ CRS purpose codes (sector codes). I could imagine humanitarian activities having a ‘Gender’ marker, possibly also other markers.

Herman van Loon • 5 years ago

Agree with that. OECD/DAC policy markers are designed to flag ‘cross cutting’ themes.

Steven Flower • 5 years ago

Thanks Wendy Rogers Pelle Aardema & Herman van Loon

I was particularly interested in the MFA standpoint, as the guidance states that Policy Markers are mandatory

Since this guidance was issued, there have been some additions to the standard around humanitarian specifics. It’s now possible to flag (for example) an activity as humanitarian. Given that OECD DAC Policy Markers might not generally “fit” humanitarian activities, I think it conceivable that some data may therefore not contain Policy Markers

My question is whether the MFA would in turn “reject” IATI activities that do not include Policy Markers, despite this context

Thanks

Herman van Loon • 5 years ago

Hi Steven Flower ,
The Netherlands MFA IATI publishing guidelines require the explicit publication of the OECD/DAC policy markers. In other words: the policy markers are mandatory.

Of course it is possible that all or some of the OECD/DAC policy markers are not applicable for an activity: in that case these policy markers have a significance score 0 (‘Not targeted’).

This situation might also occur for a humanitarian activity.

Steven Flower • 5 years ago

Herman:

Of course it is possible that all or some of the OECD/DAC policy markers are not applicable for an activity: in that case these policy markers have a significance score 0 (‘Not targeted’).

Thanks @herman

Although - over at Policy Significance - how to express “not screened” (blank)? Clarification help needed I think we have slightly conflicting advice:

Policy Significance - how to express "not screened" (blank)? Clarification help needed

I agree that the most simple way to express this in IATI is not publishing the policy marker.

Herman van Loon • 5 years ago

Maybe the term ‘not applicable’ in my response is confusing: I meant screened and after screening assessed as ‘not targeted’.

If you did not screen the policy marker, you should not publish it in IATI.

The alternative, as suggested by Ole Jacob (OJ) Hjøllund , is to publish the policy marker e.g. with a value -1 meaning ‘not screened’. I have a slight preference to just not publish the marker, instead of using a ‘missing value’ code such as -1. This seems to be more in line with the other IATI data elements.

In any case “blank” or not published is definitely something else than ‘not targeted’.

Steven Flower • 5 years ago

Herman:

If you did not screen the policy marker, you should not publish it in IATI.

Thanks Herman van Loon - yes, this is clearer.

I guess within the IATI standard / documentation there should be some guidance for people, too?

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