Tracking Humanitarian Needs and Activities in Haiti using Place Codes (P-Codes) and Stable Site Identifiers (SSIDs): Frequently Asked Questions What are P-Codes and SSIDs? P-Code is an abbreviated term for “place code” and SSID is an abbreviated term for ‘Stable Site Identifier’. P-codes and SSIDs are similar to zip codes or postal codes and are part of a data management system that provides a common reference system for locations in Haiti. Any information that is linked to a particular location through the use of a P-Code or SSID can be linked and analyzed with any other for the same location. For example, information about the emergency needs in a specified location can be directly linked to the humanitarian activities taking place in that location to carry out an analysis of any gaps that exist.

What is the difference between P-Codes and SSIDs? SSIDs are used when referring to post-earthquake spontaneous settlement sites. SSIDs refer to single geographic coordinates while P-Codes refer to larger geographic areas (also called administrative units).

Why are P-codes and SSIDs useful? P-Codes and SSIDs resolve the basic issue of how we refer to a particular location. For example, many post-earthquake spontaneous settlements are referred to by several different names by both site inhabitants and agencies carrying out assessments or relief activities. If agencies develop individual systems for naming or coding settlements, data sharing becomes extremely difficult and huge amounts of potentially useful information goes unshared and unanalyzed. Using a common and stable code to organize needs assessment data or activity information enables the exchange of data between participating agencies and the comparison of data for planning and coordination.

Why should my agency use P-Codes and SSIDs? Agencies using P-Codes and SSIDs for their own data management will be able to combine this information with standard datasets such as population data and data collected by other organizations. This information can be useful in avoiding duplicate surveys and improving program planning. For example, using SSIDs allows camp management data from the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster to be combined with sanitation data from the WASH cluster. The combined data sets can be displayed on maps, analyzed, or linked to additional datasets. Because P-Codes and SSIDs refer to spatial locations data attached to SSIDs can be readily displayed in maps when using a Geographic Information System (GIS).

What do the P-Code and SSID numbers mean? The commonly-used five- or six-digit p-codes are based on the three Haitian administrative units of Departetment, Commune and Section Communale. These p-codes are the most commonly used means for reporting “Who Does What Where” (3W) information across the country.

Geographical area (Administrative unit) Departement (Admin1) Commune (Admin2)

Section Communale (Admin3)

Coding

Example

1 to 10

Sud-Est = 2

Three or four digits, beginning with the Departement P-Code Three or four digit Commune Code followed by two-digits

Jacmel = 211

6ème Montagne La Voute = 211-06

SSIDs codes are based on the established P-Code for the Section Communale surrounding the site and an arbitrary unique identification number within that Section Communale. For instance the spontaneous site informally known as ‘Union Street / Rue L’union’ in Section Communal 211-06 (in Commune Jacmel in Departement Sud-Est) is precisely identified by the SSID 211_06_309.’ Note that although P-Codes use dashes (‘-‘), SSIDs use underscores (‘_’). There is a further two-digit coding suffix for the 60 ‘sub-sites’ which comprise 14 ‘large sites’ in the main Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). For example, the large site known as ‘Sant Salezyen Carrefour’, SSID 113_10_008, is comprised of six sub-sites including ‘Fre Salezyen Toland’ having SSID 113_10_008_02.

How can SSIDs be used in my existing databases? In most cases, adoption of SSIDs requires only the addition of an extra column to existing databases and spreadsheets. Over time it is recommended that any other naming or coding systems be phased out and that all new data collection use the SSIDs.

How can the list of P-codes and SSIDs be obtained? P-Codes and SSIDs are delivered in Microsoft Excel-format, ESRI shapefile format, Google Earth format, and can by request be delivered in other formats. P-Codes lists and their associated boundary files are available from the One Response site at: http://oneresponse.info/Disasters/Haiti/MapCenter/Pages/GIS.aspx. The custodian for the Haiti SSID data is the CCCM Cluster: http://groups.google.com/group/cccmhaiti/web/displacementtracking-matrix?_done=%2Fgroup%2Fcccmhaiti%3F

What if our agency is working in a spontaneous settlement site that does not have an SSID? Contact the Camp Coordination and Camp Management Cluster at [email protected].

And if I need further information? Visit the OCHA Information Management Unit at the UN Logistics base or contact OCHA at [email protected].

What Are PCodes and SSIDs_ver3.doc