INFORM Global Results Report 2017

This is the third annual report of the INFORM Global Risk Index for 2017. INFORM is a way to understand and measure the risk of humanitarian crises and disasters, and how the conditions that lead to them affect sustainable development. It can support decisions about prevention, preparedness and response. This report contains the results of the INFORM Global Risk Index for 2017, as well as more analysis and information about the INFORM project. This document has a special focus on how INFORM is being used and how it compares to other indices available. 

This report also reflects some changes to the INFORM methodology, detailed below. Any changes in the INFORM methodology are always applied to at least five previous years of data, so trend analysis is still valid. In this way, the model continues to improve, while maintaining continuity. 

• 'Maternal mortality ratio' has been added as a new indicator in the 'Access to health system' component of the 'Lack of coping capacity’ dimension.
• The Global Conflict Risk Index, which is used in the 'Projected Conflict Risk' component of INFORM, has been significantly improved.
• The exposure layer used to calculate the natural hazard components has been updated from LandScan to the new Global Human Settlements Layer Population Grid produced by the European Commission JRC.
• A new measure of reliability, which is now displayed for every country. This has been introduced to increase transparency about the quality of data used to calculate INFORM, while still ensuring we include as many countries as possible. It is presented as a Reliability Index on a scale from 0-10 and takes into account missing data, out of date data, and conflict status. Countries with lower Reliability Index scores have risk scores that are based on more reliable data.