Global Surge Team and Services
The iMMAP global surge team is made up of over 400 highly qualified and diverse national and international technical information management (IM) specialists. iMMAP, when required, deploys experts on mission that combine technical IM skills with sectoral and programmatic experience such as Coordination, Food Security, Health, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Protection, Nutrition, Cash, market and value chain analysis, context and geopolitical analysis, assessments, research and more, to improve country, regional and global decision-making and planning processes in line with the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) principles.
iMMAP personnel have a wide range of expertise, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, data visualization and analysis, development of data collection procedures and tools, survey and sampling design, data management, design and development, research, needs assessments and analysis, monitoring and evaluation as well as capacity strengthening training/mentorship. iMMAP maintains a surge roster of rapidly deployable international experts to humanitarian operations upon request from partner organizations by using the various agreements in place. The iMMAP roster ensures cultural, gender, geographic and language diversity. We follow competitive recruitment and selection procedures for the identification of personnel and roster members to ensure the highest quality standards are met with experts deployed on missions.
iMMAP personnel have a wide range of expertise, including geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, data visualization and analysis, development of data collection procedures and tools, survey and sampling design, data management, design and development, research, needs assessments and analysis, monitoring and evaluation as well as capacity strengthening training/mentorship. iMMAP maintains a surge roster of rapidly deployable international experts to humanitarian operations upon request from partner organizations by using the various agreements in place. The iMMAP roster ensures cultural, gender, geographic and language diversity. We follow competitive recruitment and selection procedures for the identification of personnel and roster members to ensure the highest quality standards are met with experts deployed on missions.
Global Surge Agreements
Standby Partnership Programme
The Standby Partnership (SBP) is a network of bilateral agreements between organizations and the United Nations (UN) and cluster co-lead organizations at global and country levels. The partnership commenced in 1991 as part of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.
Since 2012, iMMAP has been an official Standby Partner to United Nations agencies, providing skilled and experienced human resources in humanitarian emergencies. Supported by the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), we currently provide surge capacity support in emergency operations through our roster of rapidly deployable information management experts. The location, duration, and tasks of these deployments are defined jointly with our partners to support the country-based operational needs. iMMAP currently holds SBP related partnerships with 11 partners; 10 United Nations agencies: FAO, IOM, OCHA, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN Women, WHO, WFP and one INGO: Mercy Corps.
Since 2012, iMMAP has been an official Standby Partner to United Nations agencies, providing skilled and experienced human resources in humanitarian emergencies. Supported by the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), we currently provide surge capacity support in emergency operations through our roster of rapidly deployable information management experts. The location, duration, and tasks of these deployments are defined jointly with our partners to support the country-based operational needs. iMMAP currently holds SBP related partnerships with 11 partners; 10 United Nations agencies: FAO, IOM, OCHA, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UN Women, WHO, WFP and one INGO: Mercy Corps.
Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Through the Cooperative Agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), iMMAP deploys information management (IM) specialists to provide immediate IM support to public health operations. Our surge support program can provide rapid emergency or outbreak response deployments aimed at supporting CDC and WHO, and to Ministries of Health through them. This support is also extended to other health partners at regional, national, and sub-national levels.
Deployed IMOs are experienced in IM rapid response activities. During their deployment, they establish IM resources and provide specialized IM services to meet the needs of the public health emergency responders while working to enhance their skills and competencies. IMOs will work with response agencies to not only deliver IM services but support the development of the onward IM strategy, and coordinate with partners to ensure ongoing technical support is provided, including capacity strengthening training.
Deployed IMOs are experienced in IM rapid response activities. During their deployment, they establish IM resources and provide specialized IM services to meet the needs of the public health emergency responders while working to enhance their skills and competencies. IMOs will work with response agencies to not only deliver IM services but support the development of the onward IM strategy, and coordinate with partners to ensure ongoing technical support is provided, including capacity strengthening training.
Global WASH Cluster Field Support Team
iMMAP is a member of the Global WASH Cluster Field Support Team (FST). The FST is a consortium led by Action Contre la Faim (ACF) France consisting of four NGOs including iMMAP. The consortium provides operational support to National Coordination Platforms (NCPs) on coordination, information management (IM), assessments and the inclusion of people-centered programming. The FST has provided surge support via a partner consortium to NCPs since 2008.
iMMAP provides in-country, remote and global IM capacity to the FST in support of the NCPs objective to achieve the 6+1 core functions, as outlined in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Module for Cluster Coordination.
Additional coordination support includes preparedness, planning and capacity building of national coordination platforms. The consortium operates under a mandate given by the GWC’s Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) while seeking to secure independent funding for the deployment operations.
iMMAP provides in-country, remote and global IM capacity to the FST in support of the NCPs objective to achieve the 6+1 core functions, as outlined in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Module for Cluster Coordination.
Additional coordination support includes preparedness, planning and capacity building of national coordination platforms. The consortium operates under a mandate given by the GWC’s Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) while seeking to secure independent funding for the deployment operations.
UNICEF Global LTA for Mapping and Geospatial Information Management
Under the terms of the Long Term Agreement (LTA), iMMAP supports UNICEF in sudden-onset emergencies through the deployment, within 72 hours following the request, of expert information management (IM) officers to establish and support the emergency assessments and response initiative through mapping and geospatial information systems (GIM) as well as information management services when required.
Additionally, iMMAP provides IM services to UNICEF and their partners which include the secondment of experts in the fields of data collection, collation, mapping, analysis, assessments and information sharing in order to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the context and operation to inform UNICEF's response while supporting advocacy efforts for appropriate donor, government and community mobilization.
This LTA between UNICEF and iMMAP is global. Therefore, it can be activated upon the request of UNICEF for both in-country and remote support to country, regional and HQ teams.
Additionally, iMMAP provides IM services to UNICEF and their partners which include the secondment of experts in the fields of data collection, collation, mapping, analysis, assessments and information sharing in order to provide a comprehensive snapshot of the context and operation to inform UNICEF's response while supporting advocacy efforts for appropriate donor, government and community mobilization.
This LTA between UNICEF and iMMAP is global. Therefore, it can be activated upon the request of UNICEF for both in-country and remote support to country, regional and HQ teams.
LTA with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
The grading of an emergency triggers the activation of WHO’s Incident Management System (IMS), which provides a standardized, yet flexible approach to managing WHO’s response to the emergency. Within 24 hours of grading of acute emergencies, WHO will establish an initial incident management team (IMT) in-country to cover the six critical IMS functions which also includes the information and planning function. In this context, WHO signed a Long Term Agreement (LTA) with iMMAP, where iMMAP deploys information management officers (IMOs) to help with WHO’s emergency programme in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, for a period starting from a few weeks up to several months.
LTA with UNHCR for Emergency Information Management Services
The objective of this Long Term Agreement (LTA) is to increase UNHCR’s information management (IM) capacity to respond to refugee and IDP emergencies in a robust and timely manner by ensuring a pool of IM specialists are available by iMMAP for deployments globally, when the security situation permits, within 72 hours after the onset of the emergency.
This LTA between UNHCR and iMMAP is global and can be activated upon the request of UNHCR for both in-country and remote support to country, regional and HQ teams.
This LTA between UNHCR and iMMAP is global and can be activated upon the request of UNHCR for both in-country and remote support to country, regional and HQ teams.
MoU with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)
The GICHD works towards reducing risk to communities caused by explosive ordnances (EOs), with a focus on landmines, cluster munitions and ammunition stockpiles. GICHD contributes to the social and economic well-being of people and communities across affected countries. In January 2017, iMMAP entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GICHD. The aim of the MoU was to jointly pursue and advance activities for information management capacity development, training and certification as well as technical development.