On September 12, 2023, an event was held at the Egmont Institute in Brussels to launch the BD4M Data Innovation Handbook, providing insights into the future of migration management. The event, hosted by IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (IOM-GMDAC), the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography (KCMD), and The GovLab at New York University, emphasized the importance of innovation governance in the realm of migration data. 

The presentation of the Handbook started by highlighting new data sources available, including mobile phones, social media, and satellite data, illustrating them in parallel to policy and programmatic needs these data sources may satisfy, from tracking human displacement to understanding migrant integration. To fully unlock the potential these data have, however, it is important to consider the numerous challenges they present, from ethics to accuracy and quality, from data availability to interoperability. 

Mirroring the Handbook, the talk then delved into innovation governance, which includes data demand, data supply, data stewardship, data responsibility, and human rights. 

• Data Demand: Understanding the question and identifying who needs the data are crucial in shaping effective migration policies. The handbook highlights the significance of aligning data collection with the mission and goals of organizations working in migration management. By pinpointing the "why" and "who," policymakers and stakeholders can make informed decisions based on real needs.

• Data Supply: The quality, variety, and proportionality of data sources and methods are vital in data innovation. Ensuring data quality standards and exploring complementary data sources are key aspects of data supply. Striking the right balance between collecting a vast amount of data and focusing on the minimum viable data allows for effective policy-making.

• Data Stewardship: Building partnerships and defining institutional requirements are critical in the realm of data stewardship. This aspect involves identifying and developing the right collaborations to harness data for migration management effectively.

• Data Responsibility: The data lifecycle, from planning and collection to processing, analyzing, sharing, and using, requires responsible handling at every stage. Accountability frameworks and ethical considerations are pivotal to maintaining data responsibility.

• Human Rights: The incorporation of established human rights principles and frameworks into data innovation and governance practices, which allows to build upon existing ethical foundations, without having to reinvent the wheel, and apply them effectively to data efforts.

As we move forward, these insights aim to serve as a compass, guiding toward ethical and responsible data innovation practices, ultimately unlocking the full power of data in addressing the global challenge of migration.

You can find the slides of the presentation here. 

About the Big Data for Migration Alliance

The Big Data for Migration Alliance (BD4M) is a multisectoral initiative led by the IOM’s Global Migration Data Analysis Centre (IOM-GMDAC), the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography (KCMD), and The GovLab at New York University. BD4M’s mission is to (1) build the knowledge base for data innovation and collaboration, (2) connect key stakeholders–data users, providers and policymakers, (3) build data innovation capacities, and (4) facilitate policy-relevant research.

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