How do organizations handle data in crises? A global survey explores policy implementation aligned with open science.
Participate in the survey: https://surveys.unesco.org/UNESCO-CODATA-DPTC
The questionnaire takes approximately 10 – 15 minutes to complete.
The deadline to submit your response is 11 May 2026.
UNESCO, in collaboration with the International Science Council’s Committee on Data (ISC CODATA), has launched a global survey to assess how organizations are implementing data policies for times of crisis, in alignment with open science principles. The survey builds on the Data Policies for Times of Crisis Facilitated by Open Science (DPTC) resources introduced in June 2025 as part of the UNESCO Open Science Toolkit. The toolkit includes a factsheet, a guidance document, and a checklist. These resources are designed to strengthen cross-border crisis data management and to support governments, UN agencies, research institutions, civil protection authorities, and other stakeholders in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from crises.
Mapping implementation and identifying gaps
The survey seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how organizations are applying the DPTC Toolkit in practice. It explores key dimensions of crisis data governance, including:
- Establishing clear objectives, roles, and responsibilities
- Ensuring availability of adequate resources
- Upholding ethical standards and protecting human rights
- Strengthening data governance, infrastructure, and interoperability
- Promoting collaboration, transparency, and public engagement
- Planning for long-term preparedness and resilience
The findings will serve as a foundational resource to inform future guidance, capacity-building initiatives, and policy development aimed at strengthening responsible and effective data governance in times of crisis.
Balancing openness with responsibility
In times of crisis, decisions must be made rapidly, yet data must remain interoperable, ethical, secure, and trustworthy. The DPTC resources are grounded in the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science and aligned with widely recognized frameworks, including the FAIR, CARE, and TRUST Principles. They emphasize transparency, accountability, duty of care, and the protection of vulnerable populations, while enabling timely and coordinated data sharing across borders and sectors.
This survey represents an important step in understanding how organizations are translating these principles into operational practice. The insights gathered will help identify strengths, challenges, and priority areas for improvement in crisis data governance.
Who should participate
The development and subsequent implementation of effective data policies facilitated by open science for crisis situations requires the involvement of diverse stakeholders, each contributing a specific expertise or perspective. These include the following:
- Government agencies
- Emergency management authorities
- Public health institutions
- Statistical agencies
- Ethics committees
- Legal experts
- Research institutions (including those in academia, government, NGOs, and industry)
- Scientific editors and publishers
- Funding bodies
- Charities
- Non-governmental and civil society organizations
- Communities, journalists, and the digital and mass media
- The private sector (including technology, health, financial, and insurance companies)
Participants are invited to share their organization’s experience in implementing data policies aligned with open science principles.
Participate in the survey: https://surveys.unesco.org/UNESCO-CODATA-DPTC
The questionnaire takes approximately 10 – 15 minutes to complete.
The deadline to submit your response is 11 May 2026.
Next steps
Survey findings will contribute to ongoing efforts to pilot and further refine the DPTC Toolkit. A call for pilot projects is planned for the next phase to test the Toolkit in diverse regional and institutional contexts, support adaptation to local needs, and strengthen institutional capacity for responsible crisis data governance.
By participating in this survey, organizations contribute to shaping global dialogue and advancing coordinated, ethical, and effective data management for future crises.
Contact
Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact the CODATA Secretariat (info@codata.org) or the UNESCO Open Science Team (openscience@unesco.org)