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P-codes will be required and used at the very start of an emergency and throughout the response. P-codes help with data coordination and provide the framework for most data collection, processing, analysis, and visualization. For instance, P-codes/names are used to create the 3W and monitoring data collection frameworks. They are used to help process data such as when processing country-specific CODs (e.g., assigning P-codes to school locations). P-codes are used for analysis such as a prioritization matrix or a vulnerability matrix. P-codes are also used to visualize humanitarian data in maps and charts as seen in HDX, Snapshots, Bulletins, HNOs, etc).
How P-codes are used in humanitarian preparedness and response
- The unique ID can be used to different places with the same name
- P-code and names are used in data collection tools (e.g. 3W, RPM)
- Used to amalgamate data from different sources
- Used as a dimension for analysis (e.g. geographic severity, priority etc.)
- Can be applied to other datasets so that their geographic location is known if it is a spatial file)
P-coding process
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The first and most important two steps are: 1) confirm that there is no national coding scheme already available; 2) confirm that there is no informal coding scheme that has been adopted by some national or international organizations. Only proceed to create a P-code system if no other system is available.
The schematic below shows a basic structure of a P-code system for a country with four administrative boundary levels.
The components of this system are:
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