The what, why & who of
Regional Data Hub
What
The Regional Data Hub (RDH) aims to enhance the availability of data and promote its use in theAsia-Pacific region to achieve stronger governance outcomes and positive impacts for migrants and societies. In line with the IOM Global Migration Data Strategy, the RDH will build quantitative institutional capacity and foster multi-layered analyses of migration data across the region. The RDH will compliment these activities by ensuring the quality of primary data collection, conducting secondary data analyses, and providing technological solutions linking IOM data portals, warehouses, and research products.
Who
The RDH consists of a core team specializing in Data Analysis, Research, Visualization, GIS, Database Management System and Business Intelligence. Additionally, the RDH hosts thematic experts working on targeted migration issues under the technical supervision of relevant Regional Thematic Specialists.
The RDH operates in synergy with all ROAP units and the Global Data Institute as well as several IOM data initiatives such as DTM, GMDAC and other consolidated data projects. Together, the RDH team centralizes information, leverages quantitative insights, harmonizes data processes and disseminates good data practices.
Why
The RDH addresses the gap identified by the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) regarding the lack of standardized tools and products on migration issues and real-time information on key migration trends. The RDH serves to develop as a long term solution to consolidate and monitor both primary and secondary data sources, as well as produce original research in the region.
Furthermore, the RDH will provides a space for quantitative migration-related information that will feed into various policy forums, partnerships with regional entities and other migration stakeholders in the Asia–Pacific region.
Our Objectives
Strengthen the regional evidence base on migration
by creating an information baseline and promoting systemic data processes to produce updated migration indicators and quantitative knowledge that will support trend analyses, policy discussions, and external presentations.
Develop the capacity of IOM Offices
Government partners and relevant stakeholders to enhance the migration data portfolio by strengthening data collection methods, standardizing evidence gathering tools and supporting analytical processes, in line with Regional and Global initiatives.
Ensure more evidence-based IOM and United Nations-wide engagement
by producing targeted issue and policy briefs, linking relevant data to IOM products, and promoting IOM and UN actionable research and policy guidance through formal and informal dissemination channels.
Publications
The Team
Olga Aymerich
Head – IOM’s Regional Data Hub (RDH) for Asia and the Pacific / Regional Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Officer
Coordination/DTM/Information Management
Olga Aymerich is the Head of IOM’s Regional Data Hub for Asia and the Pacific. With over 13 years of experience as a project manager and research analyst, Olga possesses expertise in post-conflict contexts, specializing in Migration and Conflict, Durable Solutions, Peacebuilding, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), and Community Policing.
Prior to her current role, Olga served as a Peacebuilding Advisor for Data and Research in IOM South Sudan, where she played a pivotal role in supporting policy and programmatic efforts. She also served as a Crisis Response Mechanisms Consultant, coordinating the development, evaluation, and dissemination of donor demands and funding appeals for 42 country missions categorized as major crisis zones.
During her tenure as a Research Officer in IOM Iraq, Olga led a dynamic team in designing and implementing research strategies to address challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs). Additionally, she has collaborated with various international organizations and research institutions in Yemen, Oman, Turkey, Lebanon, Austria and Belgium.
Olga holds a PhD in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Birmingham, as well as a Master's degree in International and Intercultural Studies from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Mohammad Saleem Kashaf
Regional Data Hub (RDH) Database and Application Development Officer
Saleem works with the IOM, Asia-Pacific Regional Data Hub (RDH), Information Management (IM) unit as a Database Officer since March 2022 supporting the development of data warehouse, web-portal, integration services (SSIS, ETL) and API's (Application Programming Interfaces).
Before joining IOM, Saleem has worked for 11+ years with the Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan within different capacities, such as Budget Department ICT Head, Revenue System Director, Budget & Treasury Systems’ Integration Advisor and Afghanistan Financial Management Information System and Cash Planning Director. During this period, he has developed, enhanced, and implemented large systems including but not limited to Budget Preparation, Tax Administration and Public Expenditure (Treasury) System.
He has experience in database development and administration, web applications development, systems’ integration, ETL project using SSIS, APIs and business process simplification and automation along with some experience in Public Financial Management.
Saleem has a Masters’ degree in Computer Science from Kabul University. He is certified in Database Administration, Web-Application Development, Business Intelligence (SSIS, SSRS, SSAS) and Database Development and Query Optimization from Microsoft and attended other courses as well including Project Management Professionals (PMP).
Ashok Rai
Regional Data Hub (RDH) Information Management Officer
As a member of Information Management (IM) Unit, Ashok supports the information management workstream and activities within the RDH.
With about eight years of professional experience across different sub-regions of Asia in IM domain, he brings in the expertise of information management systems implementation, training and supervision using different data collection, management, and visualization tools (e.g., ODK, R, QGIS, PowerBI, Adobe Illustrator etc.).
Prior to joining IOM, Ashok worked with Mixed Migration Centre, Asia region where he successfully set up the regional information system for migration research by taking initiative on design, training and technical support of digital data collection tool for field-based survey and analysis.
He has a degree in applied science in microbiology and also been a student of CODATA-RDA Research Data Science Summer School, 2018 organized by The Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy.
Anny Yip-Ching Yu
Regional Migration Data Analysis and Research Officer
Anny leads the research and analysis team of the IOM Asia-Pacific Regional Data Hub, covering a wide range of work on migration data including data and statistical analysis, research, technical assistance, capacity building and training.
She holds a PhD in Economics from Maastricht University and United Nations University-MERIT, and a MSc in Public Policy and Human Development with a specialization in Social Protection Policy Design and Financing from the same universities.
Previously, she was a research affiliate at Statistics Netherlands and a visiting doctoral researcher at Sciences Po. She has rich experience in quantitative analysis of longitudinal population data and her main research interests are in the field of migration and labour economics especially in the areas of migrant integration, social protection, labour market dynamics and poverty and inequality analysis. She has worked on a variety of migration, social protection and health related research projects for several institutions including the IOM, European Commission, University of Bremen, University of Ghent and Maastricht Graduate School of Governance.
Gabriela Alvarez Sánchez
Regional Data Analyst
Gabriela works in the analysis team of the IOM Asia-Pacific Regional Data Hub. With 5 years of experience across various subregions including North Africa, South Asia, South American and Europe, she covers a wide range of work on migration including data and statistical analysis, research, and technical assistance. Before joining IOM, she worked as a project officer in Cairo and as a parliamentarian researcher in the United Kingdom.
Gabriela holds an MA in Migration and Diaspora Studies from SOAS, University of London and her main area of interest is how migration is currently driven by climate change and environmental issues.
Mohammed Alkali Tayib
Regional Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Support Officer
Mohammed supports the implementation of Displacement Tracking Matrix across the Asia Pacific region with more focus to the L3 Emergency operations.
With over 7 years of progressive experience in Emergency Response, Mohammed has prior to joining the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific worked with IOM Nigeria and IOM Cameroon implementing DTM and Rapid Response Mechanisms (RRM).
Mohammed holds a Master's degree in International Relations with Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom.
Barbara Porrovecchio
Regional Data Hub (RDH) Reporting Officer
Barbara Porrovecchio is the Reporting Officer of the IOM Asia–Pacific Regional Data Hub (RDH), where she closely works with the analysis and research team. Before joining the Asia–Pacific RDH as an intern, she worked as a research intern for the Mixed Migration Centre, in the East and Southern Africa team. Because of her passion about migration, Barbara was a columnist for an Italian online newspaper writing migration-related articles, and she has experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research. Barbara holds a bachelor in European Studies from Maastricht University, and a MSc in Public Policy and Human Development, with a specialization in Migration Studies, from the United Nations University
Jasmine Tham
Regional Data Hub Support Officer
Jasmine works in the analysis team of the IOM Asia-Pacific Regional Data Hub as a support officer. Prior to working with the Regional Office for Asia-Pacific, Jasmine spent three years at the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) in London and in the Democratic Republic of Congo working under the Department of Emergency and operations as a Reporting and Information Management officer. During that time, Jasmine focused on Forced and Internal Displacement across various countries and supported offices in Afghanistan, DRC, Lebanon, Mauritania, Philippines, South Sudan and the regional office for West and Central Africa. She holds an Msc in International, Social and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.