rumour tracking in a humanitarian crisis

As long as it’s not about us…

Rumours in a humanitarian crisis

What we are doing

Fishing for feedback

and brag about its size

Open our doors

What we should do

And create an environment in which people are comfortable to share information

Why?• Because they have their own priorities• Because they have their own language• Because they have their own solutions

• Because it’s not about us

Rumours force us to change our

attitude

&approaches

Open channelsOpen questions

Open communication

So…

Allow people to decide what they like to share, how they like to share it

their questionstheir solutionstheir ideas

So…

Facilitate & support

Facilitated

E.T. The

Movie

In a language they like Through people they trust

So…

Information doesn’t trickle down, nor does it just pour in

Sustainable

use existing channels&

principles of good journalism

So…

It’s methodology, not technology

Continuous

Some waves are bigger than others, but 1 rumour

is enough to take action

So…

actions can be continuously shaped and reshaped by them

Unwrapping the rumour A rumour takes different forms and shapes

• Questions• Criticism• Lies• Facts

Why do people people believe it?What is the underlying issue?

What is the existing bias/preconception?

What it looks like in

Nepal

…and in Liberia

Challenges

Facts aren’t always stronger than rumours & opinions

Scale

Processing qualitative data takes more time, money & people

How to measure impact?

Sustainable # Locals in chargeModest location of meetings – size of logos?Approachable # non-comms staff answering questions from local mediaRe-active demand-driven vs supply-drivenTransparent not just what & where, but also why & how

So…(some suggestions)