DTM & Partners Toolkit FAQ
Check our Frequently Asked Questions. Contact DTMSupport@iom.int if you have additional question
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Are DTM MSLA data what I need for my analysis?
Partners can use DTM MSLA to collect some of the data they need, saving most of the effort and cost of primary data collection, while at the same time ensuring the DTM tools collect exactly the necessary information. -
In its mobility tracking component, DTM does not interview individuals or Household (HH), and DTM enumerators and key informants are not sectoral experts.
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What information can I get from DTM MSLA?
MSLA collects information per each location, including access, number of persons, an indication of sex and age disaggregated data, an indication of scale of specific groups, available services, physical obstacles to accessing services and assistance, access to infrastructure, settlement types, and generally issues related to availability of goods and services. -
What is DTM & How does DTM collect data?
The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) is a system for collecting and analysing data to disseminate important multi-layered information about the mobility, vulnerabilities, and needs of displaced and mobile populations.
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DTM data contributes to partners’ humanitarian decision-making. Partners use DTM data for numerous outcomes -including but not limited to- use for planning, advocacy, operational decision-making, planning and operational response, monitor to access to services, and monitor risk in locations.
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How does DTM share data and reports?
DTM distinguishes three types of data and shares them in three different ways, depending on the sensitivity and potential urgency of use of the data
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How can DTM facilitate accurate partners analysis?
To correctly analyse and use DTM results, Partners need to fully understand the methodology. And in order to enhance the usability and use of DTM data by partners, set of information should be included in DTM reports and datasets. -
How can I enhance the use of DTM data?
Field experience consistently highlights the effectiveness of targeted presentations of results by DTM to partners and potential data users. -
Different levels of analysis are the responsibility of different actors. The specific details of who will conduct what part of descriptive analysis must be agreed upon at country level, before the data is collected.
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Cooperation takes time. How do we engage efficiently in emergencies?
Collecting useful data without engaging with data users greatly limits data and analysis use. Lack of early engagement may also result to additional time spent clearing misunderstanding and correcting mistakes. -
How can DTM and Partners cooperate? How can DTM collect the data needed by partners?
DTM coordinator and Partners have the joint responsibility to cooperate to obtain useful and usable data that support humanitarian response. Using a predictable and commonly agreed process helps field colleagues minimize time and optimize results in cooperation. -
How can partners help DTM collect usable data?
DTM and Partners can revise the data collection tools, to ensure the results are meeting the needs of Partners. If DTM does not collect the data in a format that Partners can use, partners are requested to provide such feedback to DTM and explain to DTM exactly what they need. -
How to move from competition to complementarity?
DTM and other data collection systems can be used to complement each other to provide different types of needed information to decision-makers. -
How to overcome conflicts over population figures?
There are no perfect figures, and nobody has the perfect figures. Coordination and collaboration can ensure addressing data challenges and limitations. -
What are the bases for DTM and Partners Cooperation?
Cooperation between DTM and Partners is a shared responsibility that starts from the planning phase. DTM and Partners should cooperate in ensuring data are useful land usable for decision-making and humanitarian response. -
What are the roles of DTM and Partners in cooperation?
The main steps of the Assessment Process are common to most humanitarian organizations and groups/clusters. DTM and Partners cooperation is needed at specific steps of the Assessment Process. -
When should DTM and Partners cooperate?
DTM and Partners should engage and cooperate from the planning phase of a DTM data collection exercise. While engagement is important throughout the process, it is crucial at some specific steps. -
DTM Partners are DTM Data Users and Humanitarian Responders.
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Why is DTM and Partners cooperation essential?
Cooperation is essential, as DTM and partners bring different skillsets to the joint process of evidence-based decision-making. -
How can DTM & Partners plan for data sharing?
Partners and DTM should agree on modalities, times and frequency of data sharing already in the planning phase. -
How to collect and share Data for Urgent Action
DTM should develop a Process for Urgent Action. This is planned in case Partners need specific datasets urgently prior to data is being analysed by DTM. -
How can we Do No Harm when collecting, storing, sharing and analysing data?
DTM team, partners, cultural experts, protection and security experts consider the impact on safety of each question and option for reply. Before including a question in the questionnaires, they will ensure that question safe and does not put anybody at risk. -
What is the DTM Field Companion and How to Use it?
The DTM Field Companion is the list of common information needs identified with global Clusters, WGs, and other sectoral experts. The Field Companion was created to support DTM and Partners field operations, to increase usefulness and usability of DTM data for response -
DTM is not giving me what I need. How can we jointly revise DTM?
Revising existing DTM data collection tools is sometimes needed, as information availability and needs of data users change over time. -
How can DTM and Partners get in touch?
DTM data are used by large number of partners. Cooperation only works when it is a shared responsibility, DTM should endeavour to engage Partners from the start, as much as Partners should do the same. -
What are my information Needs?
Information Needs are NOT the actual questions, it is what is needed to know in order to make strategic, programmatic and operational decision. iIt is important that the information needsneeds and planned and use of the information are clearly articulated by those decision-makers. It should be also and shared with both those who will help develop data-collection tools and with those who will analyse the resulting data. -
Where do DTM data fit in my analysis?
Partners can identify information needs and be part of the design of Data Collection Tools for DTM, so n order to obtain the data they need, and monitor changes in the situation over time. -
How do Partners provide feedback and how does DTM use feedback?
Collecting feedback from users is vital to keep DTM results relevant over time and is an important step of a DTM Commonly used Process. Various options are available to facilitate the agreement between DTM and Data Users on modalities for collecting feedback.
Analysis
Cooperation Process
Data Sharing
Developing Data Collection Tools
Engaging in cooperation
Feedback
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Global experts from DTM, and the Global CASH WG jointly identified common Information needs for CASH data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and CASH colleagues in the field.
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DTM worked with partners to jointly identified common Information needs for Food Security data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and partners colleagues in the field.
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DTM and Global experts jointly identified common Information needs for Nutrition data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and Nutrition colleagues in the field.
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Global WASH Cluster and DTM identified common Information needs for WASH data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and WASH colleagues in the field.
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DTM data for Inter-Sectoral analysis
DTM has contributes to Inter-Agency analysis in various ways, for example: sharing datasets on population and Sex and Age Disaggregated Data, providing multi-sectoral information on needs, resources and infrastructure at location level, and providing population reference frame. -
DTM data for Sectoral Severity and Priority Analysis
DTM data are usually analysed by partners together with data from other sources and complementary datasets. In some cases, however, partners could decide to use DTM data for Severity Analysis. This may be the case in extremely data-poor contexts. -
DTM for Accountability to Affected Population
DTM and Global Partners jointly identified common Information needs for Accountability o Affected Population (AAP) data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and AAP colleagues in the field. -
DTM for CCCM (and Settlement typology)
Global CCCM Cluster and DTM identified common Information needs for Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and CCCM colleagues in the field. -
Global Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AOR) and DTM identified common Information needs for CP that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance, E-learning and video for DTM and CP colleagues in the field.
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DTM for Counter Trafficking in Emergencies
DTM and MPA worked on a series of narrated presentations on how to use DTM and IM for Counter Trafficking in Emergencies, for Child Protection and for GBV, in addition to how to Mainstream Protection in DTM and IM activities. -
Global experts from IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, HI and other partners and DTM jointly identified common Information needs for disability inclusion data, that are appropriate to the DTM methodology, focusing on barriers faced by Persons with Disabilities in accessing basic goods and services.
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Global experts from DTM, and the Global Education Cluster jointly identified common Information needs for Education data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance to help DTM and Education colleagues in the field.
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IOM Energy Experts consulted with some of the leading Global Cluster teams and Working Groups on the most important energy data needs and gaps in displacement settings. Together with DTM, they identified common Information Needs across the different clusters/sectors and developed suggested questions and answers that are consistent with the DTM MSLA methodology.
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Global experts from DTM and the Global GBV Area of Responsibility jointly identified common Information needs for GBV data, that DTM methodologies can safely provide, and developed short guidance, video, E-Learning and Training for DTM and GBV colleagues in the field.
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Global experts from DTM, and the Global Health Cluster jointly identified common Information needs for Health data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and Health colleagues in the field.
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Global experts from DTM and Clear Global/Translators Without Borders jointly identified common Information needs for language data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and recorded a webinar to help DTM and other colleagues in the field identify and collect the information they need to communicate with affected people. Country-specific information on languages and recommended questions for various methods of data collection are available on the Clear Global site.
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Global experts from DTM, and the Global Mine Action AoR jointly identified common Information needs for Mine Action data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and Mine Action colleagues in the field.
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DTM for Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
DTM and Global Partners, jointly identified common Information needs for PSEA data, that DTM methodologies can provide, and developed short guidance for DTM and PSEA colleagues in the field. -
Global Protection Cluster (GPC) and DTM identified common Information needs that the Protection cluster colleagues in countries may have and developed suggested questions and options for reply for each information need.
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Global Shelter & NFIs Cluster and DTM identified common Information needs that the Shelter and NFIs clusters /sectors in countries may have and developed suggested questions and options for reply for each information need. , that are appropriate to the DTM MSLA methodology. These are accompanied by descriptive analysis, and possible use of data and available in the DTM Field Companion for Shelter and NFIs.
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How can Partners help DTM use the correct sectoral definitions and obtain reliable data?
Partners can support DTM ensure accuracy and common agreement on sectoral definition used in the exercise and analysis
DTM Global Survey 2023
The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Global Survey 2023 is an annual stocktaking exercise which aims to present IOM DTM's operations and activities transparently. The Global Survey focuses on operations active from January 1 to December 31, 2023, with data collection occurring from February to April 2024.