International Organization for Migration (IOM)

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IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.

Description of Activities on AI

Project: Validating Humanitarian Data Analysis Through Collective Intelligence

Affected populations in humanitarian settings rarely provide feedback or validate the findings from data collection and analytical processes despite possessing context-specific knowledge relevant to humanitarian operations. This exploratory study pilots a novel form of collective intelligence (CI) that enables returnees in Iraq to validate and improve processes for the collection and analysis of data related to the conditions in their local area. In doing so, the CI methodology allows for more meaningful participation of affected populations than is typically afforded, as well as improving organizations’ accountability to affected populations and transparency. Collecting data through digital channels, the initiative examines whether a larger and more diverse cross section of returnees could be engaged to validate findings resulting from key informant data collection. Using GPS technology, location-specific conclusions drawn from previous data collection activities are shared with affected communities to confirm or reject them and gather open-ended, qualitative input. The study finds that the demographics of respondents are more diverse than those of the pool of key informants. While the limited number of respondents in each location prevents the attainment of statistically significant results, some findings are nevertheless indicative of the potential of CI-based methods in evaluating and improving assessment tools by identifying areas of disagreement between key informants and CI participants across various indicators and demographic groups.

Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)