About profiling - JIPS - Joint IDP Profiling Service

What is displacement profiling?

Simply stated, profiling is a collaborative process for analysing displacement situations. This entails gathering information on populations affected by displacement, including local populations.

We emphasise the collaborative process because this is what makes profiling unique; it establishes a collaborative platform early on to guide decision-making and to share ownership and responsibility. Partners work together and with affected populations to create an evidence base on the displacement situation. Our experience shows that when different actors including government authorities as well as humanitarian and development actors work together throughout the process, they are more likely to agree on the results. Hence, this can be an important step in establishing a shared understanding of the situation and therefore a starting point for joint and effective responses.

When is displacement profiling useful?

JIPS specialises in protracted displacement situations, but profiling exercises can also be relevant at the onset of a crisis all the way through to long-term recovery. They are valuable when:

  • In-depth, individual or household level information on the sex, age, location, diversity and needs of affected populations is needed for the planning and provision of assistance, or to improve policymaking, development planning or advocacy outcomes
  • In-depth information and comparative analysis is needed to inform strategies to help achieve durable solutions
  • Urban situations need adapted area-based approaches
  • Consensus on existing figures or agreement on priorities for engagement is lacking
  • A cross-sector overview is missing
  • Shifting dynamics, such as a new wave of displacement or IDPs’ return to their places of origin, occur

The decision to undertake a profiling exercise should be consultative, made in partnership with all relevant stakeholders that have an interest in better information about a given displacement situation.

What is the profiling process ?

Simply stated, profiling is a collaborative process for analysing displacement situations to support solutions to displacement. This entails six phases, from defining the objectives to gathering information on populations affected by displacement, including local populations, and jointly validating the findings and recommendations (for an overview of each phase and guidance on how to implement it by yourself go to the JET).

We emphasise the collaborative process because this is what makes profiling unique. JIPS’ experience over the last years shows that when different actors including government authorities as well as humanitarian and development actors work together throughout the process, they are more likely to agree on the results. This in turn makes the evidence produced more useful to the different stakeholders, for instance to inform policy making, programme designing and advocacy.

  • icon-jet-Initiating-profiling1) Initiating the profiling exercise
    Explore the need for a profiling exercise and get the process started! Assess the information critical for planning your programs and policies.
  • icon-jet-collaborative-process2) Establising the collaborative process
    Find the best approach to orient stakeholders towards a common goal. Collaboration is always worth it in the long run!
  • icon-jet-methodology3) Designing the methodology
    What do the objectives mean in practice? Getting useful data starts with clear data needs and a detailed methodology.
  • icon-jet--data-collection4) Implementing data collection
    Collecting the data in the field is what you've been working towards. Let's get all partners to pitch in to make it efficient and safe.
  • icon-jet-data-processing-analysing5) Processing and analysing the data
    Good thing you planned for this in advance! Now is your chance to flex those technical skills and uncover the story behind the data.
  • icon-jet-validation-reporting6) Validation, reporting and dissemination
    What good is solid evidence if it doesn't translate into action? Time to get the word out and make things happen.

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