Can the future of humanitarian response be sans technology?

The number of refugees is on the rise. The need for humanitarian efforts is increasing. Be it human or natural disasters, the world is facing a gripping statistic of individuals who have been forced to live in destitute conditions. While the efforts have become more strategic, the rate at which aid is needed is multiplying by the second. It is but a clear indication for humanitarian projects and funding organisations to start investing in technology. Technology as a means to quicken donor response, magnify utilization of resources for humanitarian workers, provide better facilities for the refugees and disaster struck individuals. The focus can also be directed towards bringing long term solutions to the individuals affected by these crises.

Professionals working on field have a rich understanding of the conditions and requirements of the affected individuals. Creating substantial platforms for field professionals to communicate this understanding to technological firms would give new light to the developmental efforts. Better yet provide training to individuals or craft courses in the area of humanitarian sciences and technology. An interdisciplinary background will help establish a solid foundation to design need specific technical solutions. "Rather than have existing technology fuse into the humanitarian aid sector, our efforts should be directed towards innovating technological solutions from within" stressed a doctors without border professional at an IDRC Panel discussion . Not only will that have a stronger, long lasting impact but will pave way for more meaningful research. This kind of approach to technological innovation helps connect to individuals at a ground level since the technology is designed with a user centric feel. 

There is an immediate need to incorporate technology to our developmental efforts. A future without technology will not get us far, at least not where we are capable of going. New technology for humanitarian aid would arise from renewed strategies and design thinking. The future lies in maneuvering this tool to develop effective solutions 

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The need for technology was emphasized during an IDRC (International Development Research Council, Canada) panel discussion addressing the future of Humanitarian response. The panel discussion can be found below

-> IDRC Panel discussion on: Future of Humanitarian response

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Engineering solutions for Social Systems

What good is funding in the 21^st century? Social service, humanitarian work, public good, aid, relief, support add to it a dash of NGOs. Resting upon the threshold of donations and funds, the immediate as well as long term projects are usually if not always taken care by non profits.  That is how it has always been, claimed one graduate student during a 2 day conference on The State of the Youth in Toronto early in November. Corporate Social responsibility can never be given a genuine benefit of doubt for corporate organisations always have ulterior motives. While there was some truth to that, it was hard to let the reality set in. A large part of social and humanitarian work is done under the banner of being a non profit. That is the state of the world dynamics one would argue.  In my mind I questioned, why does it have to be like that?

Only when we challenge ourselves to think beyond the existing structures and mental models, are we truly capable of innovating and progressing. If analog was the only way of life, and we sat there assuming it to be, digital would never see daylight, nor would our mobile technology or high tech computing. Why then do we have to completely rely on existing methods and be critical towards the non standard social applications?  A method that cuts across corporate and donation based organisations does exist.

Engineering social systems through strategic management and design thinking will bring about a new flavor to this sector. Simply put, organisations that are grown out of the need to renew social systems have a brighter future than their existing counterparts.  There is a dire urgency to develop effective business models in this direction. We have been dealing with the same social systems for beyond a century. Our application mediums are being redesigned yet the source has always been the same, funding agencies.

While there is much good is this form of public service, there is a vision to actively propagate an unparalleled methodology waiting to touch the face of humanity. Design thinking for social systems brings in forces of empathy with creativity and rational. What better way than this to logically work towards social system and humanitarian issues. 

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