Audience

This Handbook is primarily intended for Country Office Programme Management teams — all level, including Heads of Programmes, Area Managers, Programme Managers, and technical officers and coordinators — to build a shared understanding of what Information Management (IM) is, why it matters, and how to implement it effectively in different contexts. It serves as a practical reference for staff across different functions who support or interact with IM processes:

• Heads of Programmes (HoPs): Strategic decision-makers responsible for ensuring IM needs are understood, prioritized, resourced, and embedded into country-level programme design, reporting, and accountability frameworks.

• Programme and Area Managers and Technical Coordinators: Key actors in defining information needs, ensuring data quality, and using information for adaptive programming and coordination with partners.

• Information Management Officers (IMOs): Operational staff tasked with applying IM standards, maintaining data systems, and supporting colleagues across the data lifecycle. In some contexts, these roles may be held by Programme, MEAL, or ICT staff.

• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Teams: Often involved in designing data collection tools, managing indicator reporting, and ensuring the data supports learning, community feedback, and donor reporting.

• ICT Staff: Technical enablers who support the infrastructure needed for secure data collection, storage, and sharing.

While the Handbook focuses on programme data, its principles and tools may also benefit other departments that handle operational or support data, such as logistics, protection, and finance.