Getting Started Guide

This short guide covers the basics of using the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE). Scroll through the guide for a full review of the system, or use the menu on the right to skip to a specific topic.

Introduction to the FDE

About the FDE

The FEWS NET Data Platform acts as the central storage location and access portal for data used by FEWS NET for food security and early warning analysis. The Platform is made up of two primary sub-components:

• The Data Explorer (focused on data access)

• The Data Warehouse (focused on data storage)

This getting started guide focuses on use of the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE).

The primary purpose of the FDE is to provide you with easy access to data in the Data Platform. To accomplish this, data is categorized by industry and can be searched and filtered. You can explore and validate potentially relevant data using a combination of visualization tools such as tables, graphs, and maps before exporting it for use.

Note that the FDE does not provide access to all of the data FEWS NET holds. Some data has restricted permissions and some data can only be accessed by using the FEWS NET Data Platform API.

The FEWS NET Data Platform is designed to work with data from the following humanitarian sector components: 

• Population and demographic

• Relief needs estimates and actual deliveries

• Market prices

• Agricultural production

• Nutrition

• Cross border trade

• Livelihoods

Watch the short video below for an example use case. (1:39)

Navigate

The FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE) is structured as illustrated below:

1. Home page

2. Navigation menu

3. Support menus

4. Domain pages

   1. Search and filter

   2. Data selection

   3. Data visualization and export

Steps for Using the FDE

1. Choose a Data Domain

About Domains

Within the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE), humanitarian sector components are represented as Domains. A data domain is a grouping of data that contains a collection of data series. Domains are organized to unify and consolidate data based on metadata consistencies and sector relationships. For example, data on relief needs estimates and actual deliveries are included within the Responses domain.

Choosing a Domain

To get started within the FDE, you must first choose one of the following domains from the navigation menu.

Some domains have limited visibility and may not be included in your view.

You can click on any domain name below to learn more about the domain.

2. Search and Filter

Search and filter are domain specific. Text search and filter options are specific to each domain and do not work across domains. For example, searching for “Mortality rates” in the Price domain will yield “Nothing found” since mortality rates are included only in the Nutrition domain.

Search

When performing a search, results appear ordered by relevance. You can refine your search using operators such as single or double quotation marks, the word or, or a minus sign.

The table below contains examples of how to use these search operators. 

Filter

Filters can be used in two ways:

1. Begin typing a term in the filter box to narrow the possible options.

2. Click on the filter box to browse a list of possible options.

Once you have found a relevant filter, through browsing or searching, click the box next to the filter name to use the filter on the available data.

Some filters aggregate items into multi-level lists (e.g., countries being aggregated into continents or sub-continents as shown in the image below). In these cases, selecting the higher-level item in the list will automatically select all the lower-level items in the list, as illustrated below.

Data Series with No Data Points

Check the Include data series with zero data points box to include data series in your search where the data has not yet been uploaded to the FEWS NET Data Platform.

View Selected Filters

The Selected Filters section allows you to view all selected filters at once and remove filters more easily. This section can be collapsed so that it does not take up space on your screen when it’s not needed.

Reset Search

You can remove all your search and filter selections at any time using the Reset Search button.

3. Create and Save Datasets

About Data Series and Datasets

Once you have applied your search terms and filters, you will be presented with a list of all available data series that match your criteria.

A data series is a collection of related data points from a single data source that are viewable as a single row within a table of data. They represent the change over time for a specific indicator. Data series are presented in table format and ordered alphabetically by country or name. They are always found beneath the search and filter section. 

A dataset is a collection of data series.

For the Spatial domain, Geo Unit Set Versions are used instead of Data series.

Create Datasets

You can create a dataset by selecting the checkboxes next to one or more data series in the This Search tab. You can clear your selections using the Clear Selection button.

The quantity of selected data series will be displayed next to the Selected tab. Click on this tab to view all of the data series you selected.

Save Datasets

You can save both selections and searches that you think you will want to access in the future.

• Selections save only the data series you have selected. The data series included within these datasets will not change over time. However, when accessed, the system automatically fetches the most current data within those data series from the server. To save a selection, click the Save Selection button.

• Searches save your search parameters and selected filters. When accessed, the system automatically fetches the most current list of data series from the server that matches those saved parameters. Therefore, the set of data series within a saved search may change over time. To save a search, click the Save Search button.

In the dialogue box that opens after you click the Save Selection or Save Search button, enter a name and description for the new search or selection. Visibility and ownership rights can also be set from here.

View Saved Datasets

To access saved datasets:

• Navigate to the domain in which you would like to view the saved dataset.

• Click the View Datasets button in the search and filter box.

• You will see a list of saved datasets organized by visibility.

• Click on any row to open the dataset listed in that row.

Learn more

• Dataset visibility

• Edit and delete datasets

4. Visualize and Export Data

There are 4 parts to the Visualize and Export section of the Data Explorer:

1. Visualize data

The visualizations built into the FDE allow you to preview a dataset to ensure the data is relevant. You can make changes to your search, filter, data series selections, and/or customization options and quickly see how those changes affect your data. Once you are satisfied that you are capturing the data you want, you can then export the dataset.

2. Explore the Metadata

The Metadata tab contains detailed information about the metadata for the selected data series. You can scroll through the metadata or choose a heading to jump to that section. You can also download the metadata using the download button on this tab.

3. Customize your data view

Aggregation options are available for most domains using the Customize menu. 

These options allow you to convert or aggregate system data into specified units or aggregation parameters. Common conversion types include, currency, units of measure for weight and volume, and time.

4. Export data

The first step to export data is to choose a File Format in the Customize menu. Options are domain specific and might include flat and time series CSV, HTML, JSON, GeoJSON, and XML formats.

The Usage Requirements drawer provides information on the source document and usage requirement for the selected data.

You can then export data from any domain in the FDE in one of two ways:

• Copy link: Refreshable links connect directly to the FEWS NET Data Warehouse database server, allowing Excel, your browser, or another application to automatically fetch the most recent data from the server whenever the links are accessed. The refreshable link can also be edited and used for calling the FEWS NET Data Warehouse API.

• Download: You can download a dataset directly to your device.

You also have the option of editing the API link manually before exporting data. Editing the API link will effect both the refreshable link and downloads.

Resources

Definitions and Standards

Select one of the options below to learn more about common definitions and organization practices that compose the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE).

• Abbreviations: Abbreviations used within the FEWS NET Data Platform

• Domain categorization: Categorization of data types into domains

• Glossary: Glossary of relevant FEWS NET and FDE terminology

• Metadata standards: Metadata standardization guidelines used in FDE

Additional Resources

Want to learn more about the FEWS NET Data Explorer (FDE)?

Check out these additional resources:

• FEWS NET API

• Definitions and Standards

• FAQs

• Release Notes Blog