Lessons learned from WFP's mobile VAM. Surveys using SMS, IVR and voice in conflict settings. Real time information for humantiarian decision making. Achievements and gaps.

1. Knowing Just in Time:
Use cases for mobile surveys in the humanitarian world
Photo: WFP / David Orr

2. WHO IS mVAM TALKING TO?
Respondents are contacted on
their own, basic mobile phones
Key informants
Traders, NGO workers, etc.
Households
Randomly selected households
within the areas of interest
mVAM CALL
CENTER

3. WORKFLOW
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4. REACH = >20 COUNTRIES
> 20,000 QUESTIONNAIRES/MONTH
ACTIVE PROJECTS18
11 COMING SOON
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5. 3 MAIN USE CASES

6. ‘WFP’s “mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping” unit investigates the food security situation
in places where staff cannot physically go.’
Bearing witness to the crimes of the Islamic State
by Chloe Cornish, IRIN
Source: WFP mVAM, October 2015
Supporting response in IRAQ
SUPPORT TO TACTICAL DECISIONS

7. DATA SHARING
1) Aggregate data is shared on a
databank
2) Findings are shared through
bulletins published online
3) mVAM shares data through two APIs:
- One private, used to share raw data
- One public, used to share aggregate data
HDX
Evidence of data being re-used and re-analyzed by European
Commission, USAID and others

8. NEW APPROACHES

9. BARRIERS
Incomplete cell
phone coverage
Low access to
tech for
vulnerable
groups
Low capacity to
use information

10. LOOKING AHEAD

11. For more information on mVAM:
Website: vam.wfp.org/sites/mvam_monitoring
Bulletins
DataBank
Resources
Twitter: @mobileVAM
Blog: mvam.org
Icon by Freepik from Flaticon is licensed under Creative Commons BY 3.0 Photo Credit: WFP / Lucia Casarin
MORE INFO