All humanitarian staff work with data in one way or another. The data of refugees must be treated with special care, due to the vulnerabilities associated with being forcibly displaced. Children are some of the most vulnerable of this group, and their data needs to be managed carefully throughout the data management process. For UNICEF, UNHCR, and all other organizations committed to the welfare of refugee children, data is an invaluable resource for informing programming and advocacy. In this context, it is essential for humanitarian practitioners to avoid causing harm by applying the principles of data responsibility and managing data in a safe, ethical and effective manner. 

From 29 to 31 January 2024, UNICEF and UNHCR and The Governance Lab at New York University (The GovLab) will host three 90-minute webinars to inform humanitarian practitioners around the world of ways they can reinforce data responsibility principles and practices in their daily work. Attendees will learn:

• The unique vulnerabilities facing refugee children in an increasingly data-driven world;

• The value of principles-led frameworks such as the IASC Operational Guidance on Data Responsibility in Humanitarian Action and Responsible Data for Children Principles in fostering responsible data activities;

• How data responsibility principles can be implemented through all stages of the data and information management process; and

• Scenarios, based on real-world examples, that describe some of the actions humanitarian practitioners can take to realize data responsibility principles and thereby  foster the well-being and agency of child refugees.

This event will take place at three separate times to accommodate the time zones and schedules of a diverse and international cohort of UNICEF and UNHCR staff, as well as their partners and those interested in responsible data for children more broadly. We encourage you to sign up for one of the following sessions:

• Session #1: Monday, 29 January 2024, 16:00-17:30, Central European Time (CET) – UTC +01:00

• Session #2: Tuesday, 30 January 2024, 14:00-15:30, Central European Time (CET) – UTC +01:00 

• Session #3: Wednesday, 31 January 2024, 9:30-11:00, Central European Time (CET) – UTC +01:00 

Note: The material presented at each session will be the same. Please register for the one session that best meets your time zone or schedule. 

Each event will be led by The GovLab’s Stefaan Verhulst, with opening and closing remarks from UNICEF and UNHCR. We encourage you to join us for what promises to be an exciting opportunity to expand learning on data responsibility. If you have any questions or have technical difficulty registering, please email us directly at datastewards@thegovlab.org.

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