One of the challenges for the humanitarian community is to foster data sharing and collaboration among multiple agencies and organizations, including potentially across public, private, and not-for-profit entities. 

Successful interagency data sharing and collaboration is based on adopting guiding principles, identifying best practices, and recognizing the challenges. It is worth noting that data collected for use within digital systems and also across other systems, should be accompanied by well-defined and responsible data protection practices that are understood by user groups and management teams.

gFSC and OCHA have developed a Field Guide designed to document best practices and guidance on data sharing at field level. Given that data sharing has often been found inconsistent and unpredictable the aim of the Field Guide is to provide a framework for the establishment and regulation of working practices between participating and partner organizations, and to facilitate the sharing of information amongst organizations.