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Table 1 Global Crisis Severity Index (GCSI) pillar, which we consider latent constructs, presented alongside the indicators within each construct, definition, whether the indicator is crisis related, and if not, when the data are routinely collected. All indicators, and their references, are further described within the GCSI spreadsheet under the sheet titled “Indicator Metadata”: https://data.humdata.org/dataset/inform-global-crisis-severity-index

From: Can severity of a humanitarian crisis be quantified? Assessment of the INFORM severity index

GCSI Latent Constructs

Indicators

Definition

Type of Indicator

Frequency of Collection

Impact of the Crisis

Landmass affected - absolute

Total number of square kilometers affected by the crisis

Crisis

N/A

Landmass affected - relative

Percent of square kilometers affected by the crisis

Crisis

N/A

People living in the affected area - absolute

Total number of people living in the affected area

Crisis

N/A

People living in the affected area - relative

Percent of people living in the affected area

Crisis

N/A

People affected - absolute

Total number of people affected by the crisis

Crisis

N/A

People affected - relative

Percent of people affected by the crisis

Crisis

N/A

People displaced - absolute

Total number of crisis related displaced people

Crisis

N/A

People displaced - relative

Percent of crisis related displaced people

Crisis

N/A

aNumber of people ill

Total number of crisis related ill people

Crisis

N/A

bNumber of people injured

Total number of crisis related injured people

Crisis

N/A

cNumber of fatalities

Total number of crisis related fatalities

Crisis

N/A

Complexity of the Crisis

Corruption perception index

The CPI scores and ranks countries/territories based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be. It is a composite index, a combination of surveys and assessments of corruption, collected by a variety of reputable institutions.

Non-crisis

Yearly

Rule of law (WGI)

Rule of law, a variable included in the Worldwide Government Indicators (WGI) captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, and in particular the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.

Non-crisis

Yearly

Rule of law (BTI)

The Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index (BTI) analyzes and evaluates the quality of democracy, a market economy and political management in 129 developing and transition countries. It measures successes and setbacks on the path toward a democracy based on the rule of law and a socially responsible market economy. It also entails an evaluation of the rule of law including the separation of powers and the prosecution of office abuse.

Non-crisis

Every 2 years

Freedom in the World

Freedom in the World is Freedom House’s flagship annual report, assessing the condition of political rights and civil liberties around the world. It is composed of numerical ratings and supporting descriptive texts for 195 countries.

Non-crisis

Once (in 2017)

Total killed in all crisis

Number killed in the crisis affected area in the last three months

Crisis

N/A

Conflict intensity

The HIIK’s annual publication Conflict Barometer describes the recent trends in global conflict developments, escalations, de-escalations, and settlements.

Non-crisis

Yearly

Gender inequality

The Gender Inequality Index (GII) reflects gender-based disadvantages in three dimensions—reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. The value of GII range between 0 to 1, with 0 being 0% inequality, indicating women fare equally in comparison to men and 1 being 100% inequality, indicating women fare poorly in comparison to men.

Non-crisis

Yearly

Income gini coefficient

Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income or consumption expenditure among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.

Non-crisis

Yearly

Ethnic fractionalisation

Ethnic fractionalisation Index is calculated using a simple Herfindahl concentration index from Ethnic Power Relations (EPR) Dataset.

Non-crisis

Yearly

Size of excluded ethnic groups

The Minorities at Risk (MAR) project monitors and analyzes the status and conflicts of politically-active communal groups in all countries. The focus of the MAR project has been “minorities at risk.

Non-crisis

Once (from 2004 to 2006)

Empowerment

This is an additive index constructed from the Foreign Movement, Domestic Movement, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Assembly & Association, Workers’ Rights, Electoral Self-Determination, and Freedom of Religion indicators. It ranges from 0 (no government respect for these seven rights) to 14 (full government respect for these seven rights).

Non-crisis

Yearly (1981-2011)

BTI - Democracy status

The Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Transformation Index (BTI) analyzes and evaluates the quality of democracy, a market economy and political management in 129 developing and transition countries. It measures successes and setbacks on the path toward a democracy based on the rule of law and a socially responsible market economy. It also entails an evaluation of the rule of law including the separation of powers and the prosecution of office abuse.

Non-crisis

Every 2 years

Crisis affected groups

Number of different types of affected population groups, based on categories of the IASC Humanitarian profile COD 2012. The final value represents a count of types of affected group, at the lowest level of the humanitarian profile page 5 of the document.

Crisis

N/A

Impediments to entry into country (bureaucratic and administrative)

This indicator refers to the general access of international actors into the country. It refers to registration, accreditation and visa policies, provision of taxes or fees on activities or goods; policies related to import and logistics; visa or accreditation delays or denial; discretional registration or visas by authorities, and presence of humanitarian organisations and workers in the country being allowed to operate.

Crisis

N/A

Restriction of movement (impediments to freedom of movement and/or administrative restrictions)

This indicator refers to the in-country mobility of humanitarian workers in order to reach the affected population and transport relief items. It includes presence of taxes and fines on passage of goods and people, quotas and limits on relief items in specific areas, assistance seized, agencies on hold despite being ready to intervene, checkpoints, or closure of border crossings.

Crisis

N/A

Interference into implementation of humanitarian activities

This indicator refers to factors such as conditions imposed on the type of aid, or the modality of aid delivery. It includes operational restrictions imposed by government as well as confiscation or diversion of aid.

Crisis

N/A

Violence against personnel, facilities and assets

This indicator takes into account security incidents involving humanitarian organisations. Incidents include attacks, abduction, execution, kidnapping of workers, and looting of humanitarian warehouses or humanitarian assets.

Crisis

N/A

Denial of existence of humanitarian needs or entitlements to assistance

This indicator takes into account statements that demonstrate a recognition or denial of needs of a population or the rights of minorities, and any discrepancy between the reported humanitarian needs and official statements.

Crisis

N/A

Restriction and obstruction of access to services and assistance

This indicator refers to the affected population’s perspective. It assesses whether people are prevented from reaching aid or services – through various restrictions, such as prevention of the crossing of borders to seek refuge, administrative barriers, or requirements to have specific documents. Sieges, roadblocks, curfews, and harassment are be considered.

Crisis

N/A

Ongoing insecurity/hostilities affecting humanitarian assistance

This indicator takes into account the presence of ongoing hostilities or violence that affects humanitarian operations, leading to decisions to divert or suspend aid, or to evacuate or modify operations.

Crisis

N/A

Presence of mines and improvised explosive devices

This indicator looks into how the presence of landmines or Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) might hinder humanitarian access.

Crisis

N/A

Physical constraints in the environment (obstacles related to terrain, climate, lack of infrastructure, etc.)

This indicator looks into seasonal events or weather conditions as well as preexisting infrastructure. Status of roads, bridges, and airfields are also considered, along with communications and logistical constraints such as lack of fuel or assets hampering physical accessibility to people in need.

Crisis

N/A

Conditions of the Peopled

Total People in Need

The total number of people in need in each crisis. The total number of people in need equals the sum of people experiencing moderate, severe, and extreme humanitarian conditions.

Crisis

N/A

Current humanitarian conditions of total population in the affected area

The conditions and status of the people affected, including information about the distribution of severity (i.e. the number of people in each category of severity within a crisis). The humanitarian conditions severity is distributed in 5 levels, each of them is defined separately.

Crisis

N/A

  1. a82% observations were missing
  2. b71% observations were missing
  3. c27% observations were missing
  4. dIndicators are estimated by first classifying the population into five levels of humanitarian conditions:
  5. Level 1: None/Minor humanitarian conditions: People are facing none or minor shortages or/and accessibility problems regarding basic services. People are able to meet basic needs, such as food, health, shelter, and wash, without having to apply irreversible coping strategies. There may be some needs but are not life-threatening
  6. Level 2: Stressed humanitarian conditions: People are facing some shortages or/and some availability and accessibility problems regarding basic services. Needs are higher but are still not life-threatening. The affected population can meet their needs by applying copying strategies. There may exist localised/targeted incidents of violence and/or human rights violations
  7. Level 3: Moderate humanitarian conditions: People are facing shortages and/or availability and accessibility problems regarding basic services which is causing discomfort and/or high level of suffering, but conditions are not life-threatening. Significant service gaps are visible, and people are marginally able to meet needs only with irreversible coping strategies. People may also face malnutrition. There may be physical and mental harm to populations. The need for humanitarian assistance is more likely
  8. Level 4: Severe humanitarian conditions: People are facing life-threatening conditions and significant shortages and/or availability and accessibility problems causing high level of suffering and irreversible damages. People face severe food consumption gaps and have started to deplete their assets or already face an extreme loss of assets. This may result in very high levels of acute malnutrition. Presence of irreversible harm as well as widespread grave violations of human rights and excess mortality. Humanitarian assistance is required
  9. Level 5: Extreme humanitarian conditions: People are facing extreme shortages or availability and accessibility problems regarding basic services. There is widespread mortality as a direct result of current condition. People may face a complete lack of food and starvation is likely. Basic needs are not being met and destitution is evident. Acute malnutrition may be widely reported. Presence of irreversible harm as well as widespread grave violations of human rights and excess mortality. Humanitarian assistance is required
  10. N/A not applicable