WHAT IS DATA LITERACY
Data literacy is the ability to read, create and communicate data as information, as well as understanding the possibilities of using data and its consequences. This skill can improve the speed and accuracy of Disaster Preparedness, Early warning Warning Early action & Disaster Response faster and more efficient. As every National Society we work with has different capacity & maturity of skills, we always ensure to tailor our data literacy trainings to the specific needs of the Red Cross National Societies.
WHO WAS THE TRAINING FOR
The training was attended by:
- Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) staff and volunteers
- The RPII project field team (response preparedness program)
- The Zambia Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU)
- Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)
- The Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA)
- A Zambia Open Street Map (OSM) representative
WHY IS IT NEEDED
This was the first data literacy training in Zambia. The goal was to raise awareness and build the skills of the Zambian team, in order to achieve speed, accuracy & efficiency when working with data.
Participants were also introduced to the concept and scope of the 510 initiative and understood how we can work together along with other local data teams that were in training (Malawi Data Team).
WHAT WE DID
The 2 day training was facilitated 510 staff members and covered these main topics:
- Introduction to data literacy
- The CRA dashboard, its features, and its importance in decision making
- Data literacy based on INFORM risk framework
- Data protection by means of the 510 data responsibility policy
The main skills which were gained were applications of OSM, QGIS, Google Earth and GLOFAS and their importance in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. Participants also received an introduction to Mobile Data Collection (MDC) through kobo collect.
FEEDBACK & FOLLOW-UP
In general, the data literacy training was welcomed by the ZRCS and the government representatives. Participants pledged to give the initiative full support, as it is key in disaster response preparedness.
The participants felt that more than two days would be needed to fully grasp the more complex technical topics.
With 510 support, the next step is to create a data team which will run a pilot project in the area of Zambezi, Chavuma and Kabompo.
WHEN & WHERE WE STARTED
We have so far conducted trainings in:
- 2017: The Netherlands Red Cross
- 2017: IFRC Regional Data Skills Workshop Hungary
- 2018: Ethiopia Red Cross
- 2018: Uganda Red Cross
- 2018: Zambia Red Cross
- 2019: Kenya Red Cross
- 2019: Malawi Red Cross
DATA TEAM CREATION & TRAINING so far!
- Malawi (3 members, operative 2017)
- Kenya (3 members, operative, 2018)
- Uganda (2 members, operative, 2018)
- Ethiopia (1 member, setting up 2019)
- Philippines (3 member, setting up, 2019)
- Zambia (1 member, operative, 2018)
- Mali (1 member, setting up, 2019)
- Nepal (Planning, 2020)
- Lebanon (Planning, 2020)
- Zimbabwe (Planning, 2020)
Written by Innocent Bwalya and Catalina Barzescu