How to Tag IATI Data

There are two primary methods to link an IATI activity to a GFNS Preparedness Plan:

• Method A: Using the IATI “Tag” Data Field (Preferred)

• Method B: Supplementing with Free Text Hashtags

Method A: Using the IATI “Tag” Data Field (Preferred)

The IATI tag element allows for the inclusion of non-statistical classifications within an activity.

Data Field	Purpose	Requirement?	GFNS Value
Tag Vocabulary	Identifies the GFNS list	Required	5
Tag Code	Country of the Preparedness Plan	Required	Two-digit ISO code (e.g., SO for Somalia)
Tag Narrative	Descriptive title of the plan	Optional	e.g., “Somalia Preparedness Plan…”

Technical Implementation (XML):

In the IATI XML, the code and vocabulary attributes must be present.

Standard usage:

<tag vocabulary="5" code="SO"/>

With optional narrative:

<tag vocabulary="5" code="SO" >
    <narrative>Somalia Preparedness Plan for Food and Nutrition Security Crises</narrative>
</tag>

Method B: Supplementing with Free Text & Hashtags

If your system cannot support the tag field, or if you want to provide more context, use hashtags in free-text fields like the activity title , description, and/or transaction description .

To make these hashtags relevant to GFNS, a specific string is required (see Country Tags for full list) that combines #GFNS with the ISO country code. For example, #GFNS-YE to related to the Preparedness Plan in Yemen.

Preparedness Plan Country	Required Hashtag	Example of Usage
Somalia	#GFNS-SO	Activity title: “Food Security programme in Somalia #GFNS-SO”
Haiti	#GFNS-HT	Activity description: “This activity relates to #GFNS-HT”
Yemen	#GFNS-YE	Transaction description: “Commitment towards #GFNS-YE”

Technical Implementation (XML):

In the IATI XML, this hashtag will be included in the narrative sub-element for any of title, description, or transaction description.

Example usage - activity description:

<description type="1" >
    <narrative>This project is in response to food insecurity in Haiti, and is a response to emerging needs. This activity relates to #GFNS-HT</narrative>
</description>