Colombia grapples with one of the world''''s largest internally displaced populations, stemming from a trifecta of causes: conflict and violence driven by non-state armed groups and criminal organizations, recurrent natural disasters, and an influx of migrants and refugees from neighboring Venezuela. In response, communities have erected settlements across the country, where living conditions are often precarious and humanitarian needs are acute.
Training workshop with the community, Cucuta, Norte de Santander, (iMMAP Inc. Colombia/Gabriel Clavijo)
To better understand and address the needs of these communities, iMMAP Inc. has developed its own settlement-based information management approach, placing the affected communities at the forefront. By fostering a sense of ownership and drawing upon their expertise and direct experience, our approach aims to optimize needs assessments, refine local response monitoring, and ensure the full inclusion of affected communities.
Drawing on the proven principles of the Settlement Approach and Open Street Maps tools, this community-centric information management strategy has been under development for over three years. Since its inception, the focus has been on building a solid methodology that emphasizes community ownership and participation. This initial phase involved meticulous development to ensure the approach effectively gathers, analyzes, and disseminates information that reflects the specific needs of each settlement.
List of settlements
Our methodology of information management in humanitarian settlements comprises six key steps, which we call “moments”:
Our approach transcends mere data collection. By empowering communities through virtual training and collaborative networks, we actively foster resilience, enhance their participation in humanitarian efforts, and ultimately empowers informed decision-making. Through this approach, we strive not only to improve the humanitarian response but also to create lasting positive impacts within the communities we serve.
Our impact
Our primary goal was to revolutionize the dynamics of humanitarian intervention, ensuring that aid is more responsive and tailored to the real needs and demands of the communities it serves, rooted in tangible evidence.
This comprehensive approach has enabled a profound understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by the inhabitants of these territories, laying the groundwork for targeted interventions.
"With the tools we''''ve received, we''''re now able to identify our needs and risks when other organizations come to assist. It''''s made it much simpler for us to articulate our requirements within the community."
Milagros Contreras, community leader of the Cardón Guajiro settlement
This collaborative process, supported by humanitarian organizations and community leaders, has also established a crucial foundation for knowledge transfer to other communities in need through the Community Mapping Network, fostering connectivity among them.
These resources we''''ve acquired aren''''t just tools to express our needs; they''''re also a showcase of our potential. Everything we''''ve gained, the knowledge and tools we''''ve never had access to before, we''''re now putting into action”, detailed Jairo Ibarra from the Brisas del Norte Foundation, a local organization which has actively participated in this process by assisting in two informal settlements and is now disseminating this valuable information to neighboring communities.
As a result, communities can now access and utilize vital information within their settlements, enabling them to articulate their needs, risks, and untapped potential to other humanitarian organizations and institutions. This enhanced dialogue has paved the way for the development of future projects and the delivery of more effective humanitarian assistance, fostering a collaborative approach to community development and resilience-building.