Chapter 1: Fragility and innovations in data collection; Johannes Hoogeveen and Utz Pape -- Part I: Innovations in data collection -- Chapter 2: Monitoring the Ebola crisis using mobile phone surveys; Alvin Etang and Kristen Himelein -- Chapter 3: Rapid Emergency Response Survey; Utz Pape -- Chapter 4: Tracking displaced people in Mali; Alvin Etang and Johannes Hoogeveen -- Chapter 5: Locally recruited, resident and enumerators for continuous monitoring; Andre-Marie Taptué and Johannes Hoogeveen -- Chapter 6: A local development index for the Central African Republic and Mali; Mohamed Coulibaly, Johannes Hoogeveen, Roy Katayama and Gervais Chamberlin Yama -- Part II: Methodologically innovations -- Chapter 7: Geo-spatial sampling; Stephanie Eckman and Kristen Himelein -- Chapter 8: Sampling in chaotic environments; Ana I. Aguilera, Nandini Krishnan, Juan Munoz, Flavio Russo Riva, Dhiraj Sharma and Tara Vishwanath -- Chapter 9: Rapid consumption surveys; Utz Pape and Johan Mistiaen -- Chapter 10: Studying sensitive topics in fragile contexts; Mohammad R Isaqzadeh, Saad Gulzar and Jacob N. Shapiro -- Chapter 11: Eliciting accurate consumption responses from vulnerable populations; Lennart Kaplan, Utz Johann Pape and James Walsh -- Part III: Other innovations -- Chapter 12: Using video testimonials to give a voice to the poor; Utz Pape -- Chapter 13: Iterative beneficiary monitoring of World Bank projects; Johannes Hoogeveen and Andre-Marie Taptué -- Chapter 14: Concluding remarks: Data Collection in FCV environments; Johannes Hoogeveen and Utz Pape.

Open Access

‘This open access book addresses an urgent issue on which little organized information exists. It reflects experience in Africa but is highly relevant to other fragile states as well.’ —Constantine Michalopoulos, John Hopkins University, USA and former Director of Economic Policy and Co-ordination at the World Bank Fragile countries face a triple data challenge. Up-to-date information is needed to deal with rapidly changing circumstances and to design adequate responses. Yet, fragile countries are among the most data deprived, while collecting new information in such circumstances is very challenging. This open access book presents innovations in data collection developed with decision makers in fragile countries in mind. Looking at innovations in Africa from mobile phone surveys monitoring the Ebola crisis, to tracking displaced people in Mali, this collection highlights the challenges in data collection researchers face and how they can be overcome.