The document presents a taxonomy of humanitarian decision makers organized into categories including donors, private sector, individuals, military, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, media, and public sector. It aims to help structure conversations about targeting specific decision makers and designing products for them. The taxonomy is intended as a starting point for discussion rather than a comprehensive model.
1. A P E O P L E & P U R P O S E A P P R O A C H
T O H U M A N I TA R I A N D ATA , I N F O R M AT I O N S E C U R I T Y A N D P R I VA C Y
J E N N I F E R C H A N , L A U R E N B A T E M A N , G I S L I O L A F S S O N
H U M A N I TA R I A N T E C H N O L O G Y 2 0 1 6 - B O S T O N M A
J U N E 7 , 2 0 1 6
2. F R O M I D E A S & P O L I C I E S T O P R A C T I C E
R E S P O N S I B L E D A TA
3. F R O M I D E A S & P O L I C I E S T O P R A C T I C E
R E S P O N S I B L E D A TA
dynamic operations
uncertain IM
time pressures
4. F R O M I D E A S & P O L I C I E S T O P R A C T I C E
R E S P O N S I B L E D A TA
dynamic operations
uncertain IM
time pressures
P R A C T I C E
5. What part of the ecosystem are we focusing upon?
HUMANITARIAN
DECISION
MAKERS
LEGEND
TAXONOMY
THE
Donors
Private Sector
Individuals
Military
International Organizations
Non-Governmental Organizations
Media
Public Sector
Units found at the national level and sub-national level
PRIVATE SECTOR
MEDIA
PUBLIC SECTOR
NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS
INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
MILITARY
INDIVIDUALS
Chief Executive
Officer
Others
Emergency
Response Team
External Affairs
Managing Director
Managing Director
National
Governments
Regional
Organizations
Parliament
Local Community
Members
Provincal
Authority
Political
Opposition
State Representatives
Municipal
Authority
Private
Military
Companies
Irregular
Forces
Military Personnel
Ministerof
Defence
Military Commanders
Head of Division
Intelligence Officer
Head of Division
Head of Division
Information
Management
Officer
PS
P
Me
IO
NG
Mi
In
DONORS
Governments
Funds
Private Giving
Executive
Director
Deputy
Directors
Head of Finance
Head of Programmes
Head of Reporting
Governments
Director
Head of Development
Policies
Head of Finance
Governmental
Donors
Intergovernmental
Donors
D
Governmental
Aid Agencies
Deputy Director
Head of Cooperation
Board of Directors
Executive Directors
President
Managing Directors
Head of Operations Policy
Head of Regional Offices
Committies
Executive Director
Director ofFinance
Head of Development
Policies
Private Sector
Charities
Board of Governors
Head of Finance
Head of Fundraising
Head of Operations
Spokesperson
Head of Public Relations
Head of Development
Fundraising Officer
Individual Donors
Corporate Donors
Volunteers
Program Officers
Areas of Responsibility Coordinators
International
Local
National
Board of Editors
News Reporters
Community
Journalism
Citizens
News Reporters
Citizen Journalism
Executive Director
Board of Directors
News Aggregation
Platform
Public Citizen Reporters
Publishing Director
Editors in Chief
News Reporters
Council
Board of Directors
Publishing Director
Editors in Chief
Global Operations
Director
Specialists
Team Leader
Corporate Responsibility
Director
International
PopulationNational
Population
Bordering Populations
Affected
Individuals
DonorsVolunteer
Groups
Displaced
Other of Concern
Technical Volunteers
Coordinators
Non-Technical Volunteers
Injured
Hosts
Family of Victims Internally Displaced Persons
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
National
Forces
RedCross
UnitedNations/
Inter-Agency
StandingCommittee
Multinational
Forces
Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer
Stakeholders
Blue Berets
Headof
Government
ArmyCommand
Other Armed Groups
Rebel Forces
Militia Forces
Rebel Combattants
Militiamen
Military Councilmen
Military Leaders
Volunteers
Punctual Coalitions
Permanent Coalitions
Senior Military Officers
Military Committee
International Civilian Staff
Permanent State
Representatives
International Military Staff
Members of the Parliament
Legislature
Director
Head of Government
Ministers
Commission/Assembly
National Ministers
Emergency
Response
Services
National
Authority
Intelligence
Services
Deputy Director
Spokesperson
Head of the Office
of Public Affairs
Head of Intelligence
Branch
Head of Criminal
Branch
Team Leaders
Head of Branch
Investigation Officer
Firefighters
Medical Staff
Law Enforcement
Officers
Focal Points
Public Safety
Answering Point
Personnel
Search and
Rescue Teams
Advocacy
Organizations
Operational
Organizations
Volunteers
Assembly Members
Director of Finance
Spokesperson
Director of Campaigns
Assembly Members
Administration Officer
Finance Officer
Country Managers
Regional Coordinators
Country Coordinators
Executive Director
Director of Operations
Security Focal Points
Finance Managers
Administration Managers
Operational Managers
Logistics Officers
InternationalFederation
ofRedCrossand
RedCrescentSocieties
International
Committee
oftheRedCross
InternationalCommittee
oftheRedCross
Under-Secretary-Generaland
EmergencyReliefCoordinator
Secretary-General
Under-Secretary General
for the Department
of Field Support
Special Representatives
of the Secretary-General
National Forces
Force Commander
Chief Administrative Officer
Head of Governments
Under-Secretary
General for the Department
of Peacekeeping
Operations
Spokesperson
for the
Secretary General
Spokesperson
for the
Secretary General
Resident Coordinator/
Humanitarian Coordinator
Assembly Council Members
Assembly members
Vice-President
President
Director of Communications
Spokesperson
Director of Operations
Delegates
Regional Heads of Operations
Volunteers
Secretary General
National Red Cross/
Red Crescent Societies Assistant Directors
Operation Officers
Executive Director
Director of
Operations
Security Personnel
Operations Personnel
Humanitarian
Country Team
Under Secretary General
for Humanitarian Values
and Diplomacy
Head of Communication
Spokesperson
UN-DSS Security Officer
Agency Country
Representatives
Head of Cluster
Lead Agency
Planning Officer
Logistic Officer
Program Officer
Administration
Finance Personnel
Human Resources Personnel
Deputy Executive Directors
Emergency Programmes Director
Head of Agencies
Global Clusters
Executive Director
Director of Communications
Spokesperson
Coordination Director
Cluster Coordinator
Areas of Responsibility
Focal Points
Head of Global
Cluster Lead Agency
Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director
Director of Communications
Coordination Director
Emergency Programmes Director
Spokesperson
Global Cluster Coordinator
Global Areas of
Responsibility
Focal Points
Agency Country
Representative
Planning Officer
Logistics Officer
Program Officer
Operations Personnel
Security Focal Point
Administration
Finance Personnel
Human Resources Personnel
Text box
Executive Director
Security Focal Point
Board of Directors
Volunteer
Groups
Donors
Coordinators
Hosts
Displaced
Other of Concern
Internally Displaced Persons
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Technical Volunteers
Non-Technical Volunteers
This product and related work were completed by UN-OCHA as a contribution to the efforts of the Decision Makers Needs community http://digitalhumanitarians.com/
DH
Digital
Humanitarian
Network
Community
Head of Operations
Head of Support Services
Head of Support Services
Headquarter Specialist Personnel
Headquarter Specialist Personnel
Project Officer
Response Team Leader
Field Specialist Personnel
Field Security Personnel
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
DM N
Version 1.1
Email: fis-ocha@un.org
The purpose of this product is to help people to have more structured conversations, to be able to better articulate which decision makers
they are targeting, and to inquire with said people to design better products. We know that this product will not fit everyone's' model of how
decision makers or decision making is structured. But we hope that it will start a more informed discussion. You may also want to look at
6. What part of the ecosystem are we focusing upon?
HUMANITARIAN
DECISION
MAKERS
LEGEND
TAXONOMY
THE
Donors
Private Sector
Individuals
Military
International Organizations
Non-Governmental Organizations
Media
Public Sector
Units found at the national level and sub-national level
PRIVATE SECTOR
MEDIA
PUBLIC SECTOR
NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS
INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
MILITARY
INDIVIDUALS
Chief Executive
Officer
Others
Emergency
Response Team
External Affairs
Managing Director
Managing Director
National
Governments
Regional
Organizations
Parliament
Local Community
Members
Provincal
Authority
Political
Opposition
State Representatives
Municipal
Authority
Private
Military
Companies
Irregular
Forces
Military Personnel
Ministerof
Defence
Military Commanders
Head of Division
Intelligence Officer
Head of Division
Head of Division
Information
Management
Officer
PS
P
Me
IO
NG
Mi
In
DONORS
Governments
Funds
Private Giving
Executive
Director
Deputy
Directors
Head of Finance
Head of Programmes
Head of Reporting
Governments
Director
Head of Development
Policies
Head of Finance
Governmental
Donors
Intergovernmental
Donors
D
Governmental
Aid Agencies
Deputy Director
Head of Cooperation
Board of Directors
Executive Directors
President
Managing Directors
Head of Operations Policy
Head of Regional Offices
Committies
Executive Director
Director ofFinance
Head of Development
Policies
Private Sector
Charities
Board of Governors
Head of Finance
Head of Fundraising
Head of Operations
Spokesperson
Head of Public Relations
Head of Development
Fundraising Officer
Individual Donors
Corporate Donors
Volunteers
Program Officers
Areas of Responsibility Coordinators
International
Local
National
Board of Editors
News Reporters
Community
Journalism
Citizens
News Reporters
Citizen Journalism
Executive Director
Board of Directors
News Aggregation
Platform
Public Citizen Reporters
Publishing Director
Editors in Chief
News Reporters
Council
Board of Directors
Publishing Director
Editors in Chief
Global Operations
Director
Specialists
Team Leader
Corporate Responsibility
Director
International
PopulationNational
Population
Bordering Populations
Affected
Individuals
DonorsVolunteer
Groups
Displaced
Other of Concern
Technical Volunteers
Coordinators
Non-Technical Volunteers
Injured
Hosts
Family of Victims Internally Displaced Persons
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
National
Forces
RedCross
UnitedNations/
Inter-Agency
StandingCommittee
Multinational
Forces
Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer
Stakeholders
Blue Berets
Headof
Government
ArmyCommand
Other Armed Groups
Rebel Forces
Militia Forces
Rebel Combattants
Militiamen
Military Councilmen
Military Leaders
Volunteers
Punctual Coalitions
Permanent Coalitions
Senior Military Officers
Military Committee
International Civilian Staff
Permanent State
Representatives
International Military Staff
Members of the Parliament
Legislature
Director
Head of Government
Ministers
Commission/Assembly
National Ministers
Emergency
Response
Services
National
Authority
Intelligence
Services
Deputy Director
Spokesperson
Head of the Office
of Public Affairs
Head of Intelligence
Branch
Head of Criminal
Branch
Team Leaders
Head of Branch
Investigation Officer
Firefighters
Medical Staff
Law Enforcement
Officers
Focal Points
Public Safety
Answering Point
Personnel
Search and
Rescue Teams
Advocacy
Organizations
Operational
Organizations
Volunteers
Assembly Members
Director of Finance
Spokesperson
Director of Campaigns
Assembly Members
Administration Officer
Finance Officer
Country Managers
Regional Coordinators
Country Coordinators
Executive Director
Director of Operations
Security Focal Points
Finance Managers
Administration Managers
Operational Managers
Logistics Officers
InternationalFederation
ofRedCrossand
RedCrescentSocieties
International
Committee
oftheRedCross
InternationalCommittee
oftheRedCross
Under-Secretary-Generaland
EmergencyReliefCoordinator
Secretary-General
Under-Secretary General
for the Department
of Field Support
Special Representatives
of the Secretary-General
National Forces
Force Commander
Chief Administrative Officer
Head of Governments
Under-Secretary
General for the Department
of Peacekeeping
Operations
Spokesperson
for the
Secretary General
Spokesperson
for the
Secretary General
Resident Coordinator/
Humanitarian Coordinator
Assembly Council Members
Assembly members
Vice-President
President
Director of Communications
Spokesperson
Director of Operations
Delegates
Regional Heads of Operations
Volunteers
Secretary General
National Red Cross/
Red Crescent Societies Assistant Directors
Operation Officers
Executive Director
Director of
Operations
Security Personnel
Operations Personnel
Humanitarian
Country Team
Under Secretary General
for Humanitarian Values
and Diplomacy
Head of Communication
Spokesperson
UN-DSS Security Officer
Agency Country
Representatives
Head of Cluster
Lead Agency
Planning Officer
Logistic Officer
Program Officer
Administration
Finance Personnel
Human Resources Personnel
Deputy Executive Directors
Emergency Programmes Director
Head of Agencies
Global Clusters
Executive Director
Director of Communications
Spokesperson
Coordination Director
Cluster Coordinator
Areas of Responsibility
Focal Points
Head of Global
Cluster Lead Agency
Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director
Director of Communications
Coordination Director
Emergency Programmes Director
Spokesperson
Global Cluster Coordinator
Global Areas of
Responsibility
Focal Points
Agency Country
Representative
Planning Officer
Logistics Officer
Program Officer
Operations Personnel
Security Focal Point
Administration
Finance Personnel
Human Resources Personnel
Text box
Executive Director
Security Focal Point
Board of Directors
Volunteer
Groups
Donors
Coordinators
Hosts
Displaced
Other of Concern
Internally Displaced Persons
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Technical Volunteers
Non-Technical Volunteers
This product and related work were completed by UN-OCHA as a contribution to the efforts of the Decision Makers Needs community http://digitalhumanitarians.com/
DH
Digital
Humanitarian
Network
Community
Head of Operations
Head of Support Services
Head of Support Services
Headquarter Specialist Personnel
Headquarter Specialist Personnel
Project Officer
Response Team Leader
Field Specialist Personnel
Field Security Personnel
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
DM N
Version 1.1
Email: fis-ocha@un.org
The purpose of this product is to help people to have more structured conversations, to be able to better articulate which decision makers
they are targeting, and to inquire with said people to design better products. We know that this product will not fit everyone's' model of how
decision makers or decision making is structured. But we hope that it will start a more informed discussion. You may also want to look at
7. What part of the ecosystem are we focusing upon?
HUMANITARIAN
DECISION
MAKERS
LEGEND
TAXONOMY
THE
Donors
Private Sector
Individuals
Military
International Organizations
Non-Governmental Organizations
Media
Public Sector
Units found at the national level and sub-national level
PRIVATE SECTOR
MEDIA
PUBLIC SECTOR
NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS
INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
MILITARY
INDIVIDUALS
Chief Executive
Officer
Others
Emergency
Response Team
External Affairs
Managing Director
Managing Director
National
Governments
Regional
Organizations
Parliament
Local Community
Members
Provincal
Authority
Political
Opposition
State Representatives
Municipal
Authority
Private
Military
Companies
Irregular
Forces
Military Personnel
Ministerof
Defence
Military Commanders
Head of Division
Intelligence Officer
Head of Division
Head of Division
Information
Management
Officer
PS
P
Me
IO
NG
Mi
In
DONORS
Governments
Funds
Private Giving
Executive
Director
Deputy
Directors
Head of Finance
Head of Programmes
Head of Reporting
Governments
Director
Head of Development
Policies
Head of Finance
Governmental
Donors
Intergovernmental
Donors
D
Governmental
Aid Agencies
Deputy Director
Head of Cooperation
Board of Directors
Executive Directors
President
Managing Directors
Head of Operations Policy
Head of Regional Offices
Committies
Executive Director
Director ofFinance
Head of Development
Policies
Private Sector
Charities
Board of Governors
Head of Finance
Head of Fundraising
Head of Operations
Spokesperson
Head of Public Relations
Head of Development
Fundraising Officer
Individual Donors
Corporate Donors
Volunteers
Program Officers
Areas of Responsibility Coordinators
International
Local
National
Board of Editors
News Reporters
Community
Journalism
Citizens
News Reporters
Citizen Journalism
Executive Director
Board of Directors
News Aggregation
Platform
Public Citizen Reporters
Publishing Director
Editors in Chief
News Reporters
Council
Board of Directors
Publishing Director
Editors in Chief
Global Operations
Director
Specialists
Team Leader
Corporate Responsibility
Director
International
PopulationNational
Population
Bordering Populations
Affected
Individuals
DonorsVolunteer
Groups
Displaced
Other of Concern
Technical Volunteers
Coordinators
Non-Technical Volunteers
Injured
Hosts
Family of Victims Internally Displaced Persons
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
National
Forces
RedCross
UnitedNations/
Inter-Agency
StandingCommittee
Multinational
Forces
Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer
Stakeholders
Blue Berets
Headof
Government
ArmyCommand
Other Armed Groups
Rebel Forces
Militia Forces
Rebel Combattants
Militiamen
Military Councilmen
Military Leaders
Volunteers
Punctual Coalitions
Permanent Coalitions
Senior Military Officers
Military Committee
International Civilian Staff
Permanent State
Representatives
International Military Staff
Members of the Parliament
Legislature
Director
Head of Government
Ministers
Commission/Assembly
National Ministers
Emergency
Response
Services
National
Authority
Intelligence
Services
Deputy Director
Spokesperson
Head of the Office
of Public Affairs
Head of Intelligence
Branch
Head of Criminal
Branch
Team Leaders
Head of Branch
Investigation Officer
Firefighters
Medical Staff
Law Enforcement
Officers
Focal Points
Public Safety
Answering Point
Personnel
Search and
Rescue Teams
Advocacy
Organizations
Operational
Organizations
Volunteers
Assembly Members
Director of Finance
Spokesperson
Director of Campaigns
Assembly Members
Administration Officer
Finance Officer
Country Managers
Regional Coordinators
Country Coordinators
Executive Director
Director of Operations
Security Focal Points
Finance Managers
Administration Managers
Operational Managers
Logistics Officers
InternationalFederation
ofRedCrossand
RedCrescentSocieties
International
Committee
oftheRedCross
InternationalCommittee
oftheRedCross
Under-Secretary-Generaland
EmergencyReliefCoordinator
Secretary-General
Under-Secretary General
for the Department
of Field Support
Special Representatives
of the Secretary-General
National Forces
Force Commander
Chief Administrative Officer
Head of Governments
Under-Secretary
General for the Department
of Peacekeeping
Operations
Spokesperson
for the
Secretary General
Spokesperson
for the
Secretary General
Resident Coordinator/
Humanitarian Coordinator
Assembly Council Members
Assembly members
Vice-President
President
Director of Communications
Spokesperson
Director of Operations
Delegates
Regional Heads of Operations
Volunteers
Secretary General
National Red Cross/
Red Crescent Societies Assistant Directors
Operation Officers
Executive Director
Director of
Operations
Security Personnel
Operations Personnel
Humanitarian
Country Team
Under Secretary General
for Humanitarian Values
and Diplomacy
Head of Communication
Spokesperson
UN-DSS Security Officer
Agency Country
Representatives
Head of Cluster
Lead Agency
Planning Officer
Logistic Officer
Program Officer
Administration
Finance Personnel
Human Resources Personnel
Deputy Executive Directors
Emergency Programmes Director
Head of Agencies
Global Clusters
Executive Director
Director of Communications
Spokesperson
Coordination Director
Cluster Coordinator
Areas of Responsibility
Focal Points
Head of Global
Cluster Lead Agency
Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director
Director of Communications
Coordination Director
Emergency Programmes Director
Spokesperson
Global Cluster Coordinator
Global Areas of
Responsibility
Focal Points
Agency Country
Representative
Planning Officer
Logistics Officer
Program Officer
Operations Personnel
Security Focal Point
Administration
Finance Personnel
Human Resources Personnel
Text box
Executive Director
Security Focal Point
Board of Directors
Volunteer
Groups
Donors
Coordinators
Hosts
Displaced
Other of Concern
Internally Displaced Persons
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Technical Volunteers
Non-Technical Volunteers
This product and related work were completed by UN-OCHA as a contribution to the efforts of the Decision Makers Needs community http://digitalhumanitarians.com/
DH
Digital
Humanitarian
Network
Community
Head of Operations
Head of Support Services
Head of Support Services
Headquarter Specialist Personnel
Headquarter Specialist Personnel
Project Officer
Response Team Leader
Field Specialist Personnel
Field Security Personnel
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
DM N
Version 1.1
Email: fis-ocha@un.org
The purpose of this product is to help people to have more structured conversations, to be able to better articulate which decision makers
they are targeting, and to inquire with said people to design better products. We know that this product will not fit everyone's' model of how
decision makers or decision making is structured. But we hope that it will start a more informed discussion. You may also want to look at
8. What is the scope of work?
S E R V I C E - O R I E N T E D
O P E R AT I O N S
A D V O C A C Y
C O O R D I N AT I O N
D ATA S H A R I N G
O P E N
H U M A N I TA R I A N I S M
9. What is the scope of work?
S E R V I C E - O R I E N T E D
O P E R AT I O N S
A D V O C A C Y
C O O R D I N AT I O N
D ATA S H A R I N G
O P E N
H U M A N I TA R I A N I S M
15. P E O P L E B E F O R E D ATA
A C T I O N S
S E N D E R S
R E C E I V E R S
S H A R E R S
P R O PA G AT O R S /
B L O C K E R S
16. P E O P L E B E F O R E D ATA
A C T I O N S
S E N D E R S
R E C E I V E R S
S H A R E R S
P R O PA G AT O R S /
B L O C K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E
H U M A N I TA R I A N
T R A I N E D
V O L U N T E E R
S TA F F
C O N S U LTA N T S
17. P E O P L E B E F O R E D ATA
A C T I O N S
S E N D E R S
R E C E I V E R S
S H A R E R S
P R O PA G AT O R S /
B L O C K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E
H U M A N I TA R I A N
T R A I N E D
V O L U N T E E R
S TA F F
C O N S U LTA N T S
H A R D WA R E S O F T WA R E
C L O U D S Y S T E M S
18. P E O P L E B E F O R E D ATA
A C T I O N S
S E N D E R S
R E C E I V E R S
S H A R E R S
P R O PA G AT O R S /
B L O C K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E
H U M A N I TA R I A N
T R A I N E D
V O L U N T E E R
S TA F F
C O N S U LTA N T S
H A R D WA R E S O F T WA R E
C L O U D S Y S T E M S
VA R I A B L E C H A N N E L R I S K A C T I O N
19. P E O P L E B E F O R E D ATA
A C T I O N S
S E N D E R S
R E C E I V E R S
S H A R E R S
P R O PA G AT O R S /
B L O C K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E
H U M A N I TA R I A N
T R A I N E D
V O L U N T E E R
S TA F F
C O N S U LTA N T S
H A R D WA R E S O F T WA R E
C L O U D S Y S T E M S
20. P E O P L E B E F O R E D ATA
A C T I O N S
S E N D E R S
R E C E I V E R S
S H A R E R S
P R O PA G AT O R S /
B L O C K E R S
E X P E R I E N C E
H U M A N I TA R I A N
T R A I N E D
V O L U N T E E R
S TA F F
C O N S U LTA N T S
H A R D WA R E S O F T WA R E
C L O U D S Y S T E M SC H A N G I N G
C O N N E C T I V I T Y
P R O J E C T S
P E O P L E
P R O C E S S E S
22. C H A L L E N G E S & N E X T S T E P S
• Making decisions - unchartered & unknown territory
• Sustainability - people/processes enabling progress
• Initiative, advocacy, diligence
• Balancing open data approaches with responsible
data practices.
23. J E N N I F E R C H A N , M D , M P H
J E N N I F E R . C H A N @ N E T H O P E . O R G
J L C 7 6 3 @ G M A I L . C O M
@ J E N N I F E R C H A N 7
Thank you !