1. A Geographical Information System for MSF Operational Needs
MSF-CH GIS UNIT – MSF Scientific Day – 7th May 2015

2. Definition of GIS
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) link location (spatial) and database (tabular) information and enable visualisation of patterns, relationships, and trends
This process gives a new perspective to data analysis that cannot be seen in a table or list format
A GIS uses geography as its organizing principle
GIS involves the use of maps, starting from basic use of maps in the field to the use of GPS, remote sensing (satellite imagery), and all kinds of geo-referenced information (locations of patients, certain infrastructures, etc).

3. The GIS Strategy for MSF-CH
Setting the foundation of a system responding to needs
Base maps and reference data
Map Centre: Cornerstone of the GIS strategy
Providing structure and a replicable system for other MSF Operational Centres
2012
2013
2014
2015
2020
Analysis of GIS at / for MSF
Implementation of OCG’s GIS dev. Strategy
Deployement 4 GIS officers Ebola context
Definition of the future of the GIS Unit
The GIS Strategy developed for MSF-CH is setting the foundation of a
system responding to the needs for base maps and reference data. Those
will be accessible through a Map Centre, which will be developed as a
portal for GIS data, maps and tools and remain the cornerstone of the GIS
strategy.
This Map Centre is composed of a library of maps (Geonetwork) and a
centralized database allowing users or dedicated applications to access
reference maps and data.
The MSF CH also aims at structuring this movement so it can serve as a
replicable system for other MSF’s Operational Centres.
In 2013, MSF Switzerland began to appraise mapping and the use of GIS
within the Movement. A comprehensive study of what already existed in the
Movement led to the conclusion that access to / interpolate base maps and
reference data for their countries of operation is the main need

4. MSF Map Centre .

5. Improve, populate, develop tools
MSF Map Centre
MSF movement-wide GIS data repository
Maps from different sources: Reliefweb, UNOSAT, …
Issues and requests
Cell
Improve, populate, develop tools
GIS Experts
Map Centre
Crowdsourcing
Cell
Data, maps and tools
Tools
Issues and requests
Vienna Unit
OC GIS focal p.
Cell
Submit Datasets
Single webpage to
1) View existing maps,
2) Request new maps and analysis of all types (requests are forwarded to the experts best responding your needs)
3) submit existing datasets collected in the field,
4) access GIS related tools.

6. First Emergencies Remote mapping - 2013 Philippines – Haiyan
1st step: Activation: night before first departure, harvesting of existing maps ready to print
2nd step: Specific requests from Emergency Cell
Success story
Reactivity
Support to operations
Naming and locations
To be improved
Lack of Internet
Useful for HQ, less for the field
Data sharing from the field
South Sudan Cameroon Syria Ukraine …

8. GIS in Ebola Response First continuous GIS support to emergency in MSF
Up to four simultaneous deployments – Guinea (ongoing), Liberia, Sierra Leone
Mapping support:
Basemap: Naming, village locations, roads
Epidemiological maps
Other types of requests: LOG / Coordination / …
Intersectional position: one GIS officer for a country
In March 2014, MSF-Switzerland deployed a dedicated Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) officer to Guinea in response to the Ebola
outbreak in the south of the country. In support of the epidemiological team,
the GIS officer was charged with producing general overview maps, as well
as topical maps that supported different aspects of the operation.
During the eight weeks of his mission, the GIS officer produced 109 maps
for this previously very poorly mapped area. The maps included basic
orientation maps that showed roads, landmarks and villages but also
specialised maps that visualized population density or the spread of the
disease.
Both field and headquarters staff interviewed for this case study emphasized
that having a dedicated GIS officer in the field was a major asset that had
a significant positive impact on the operation.
Universally, interviewees identified two outputs as the most useful:
• Localization: With the help of a newly created database and
subsequently produced maps, the GIS officer was able to pinpoint the
exact location of villages and identify villages that had the same name
but were in different parts of the prefecture. Based on this information,
MSF programme staff were able to respond to the outbreak faster, in
a more targeted way and with fewer resources.
• Visualization: A weekly mapping of confirmed and suspected Ebola
cases helped translate the progression of the epidemic from technical
data into an easy-to-grasp map. As a result, staff at all levels had a
better understanding of the emergency.
The interviews also highlighted the fact that most MSF staff know very little
about GIS in general, let alone how a GIS officer could support them. The
newly formed GIS unit at the Operational Centre Geneva (OCG) needs to
do more to educate staff at headquarters and in the field about how GIS
can support operations. For field deployments, this means that GIS officers
need to be service-oriented self-starters because only very few staff will
know how to make best use of his or her skills.
To map the areas of operation in a reasonable amount of time, the GIS
unit - in support of the field officer - crowdsourced tasks that were neither
confidential nor sensitive. As a result, a substantial number of overview

9. Added Value of the GIS
Faster response when knowing better the area of operations (GPS Men)

10. Better / faster understanding of the outbreak

11. Data management support
Interaction with multiple actors
Local government (training / data)
Humanitarian actors: WHO / CDC / IFRC / (maps / data)
Sharing geographical resources: OpenStreetMap

12. CONCLUSION Improvement of the GIS Culture Innovative approach
Successful pilot
Transversal position: useful for Epidemiologists, Logisticians, Admin, Water and Sanitation...
Information manager in the field

13. What next for the GIS ? Improve the support to MSF Operations
Reinforce the GIS Unit
Developing training and capacity building
Promoting an intersectional GIS approach
Sharing a common set of referenced data and standard procedures
Improve the support to MSF Operations

14. Thanks for your attention
20 GPS Men
7 GIS Officers deployed
1,350 maps in the Map Centre
Thanks for your attention
GIS UNIT – MSF OCG
Sylvie de Laborderie
GIS Expert
GIS Unit – MSF-CH
Mathieu Soupart
Logistics Director
MSF OCG