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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Hackathons; A direct application of Systems Thinking Principles

After a gripping 2 days of non-stop foreign aid open data discussions, software development and unlimited coffee, ground work at IATI (International Aid Transparency Initiative), IDRC and DFATD seemed to make a lot more sense. By the end, all those involved in the hackathon had a fair insight into the challenges faced by Canada’s foreign Aid.  

The term hackathon has gained much publicity and media attention over the last few years. The term refers to a successive collaboration of coders and experts from varying disciplines to work on specific project ideas aiming to solve global issues. A typical hackathon lasting from anywhere between a few hours to days brings about a spectacular congregation for cross disciplinary research, idea generation and social innovation. Most of the talk surrounding hackathons is around programmers. Developing unique software solutions and web interfaces is what is sort after in these rapid coding zones. However the inclusion of personnel from other disciplines is what sets the real ground, transcending disciplines and framing a new perspective on the project to be resolved.

Picture Courtesy: http://www.123rf.com

It is this perspective that finds its roots in Systems Thinking methodologies. Instead of scrutinizing a problem by reductionism, systems thinking tries to establish a practical understanding of the interdependent elements by developing a holistic model of thinking. It also incorporates an operational thinking approach which deals with chaos and complexity in a system. Another essential constituent system thinking brings in is that of a social cultural view to the process of analyzing a system. The teams working on such global platforms share individual views during the process of decision making and critical thinking ultimately drawing upon a suitable technology driven social acceptable solution. There is always the question of assessing solutions lest they lead to unintended consequences or risks. Lastly, the encompassing factor while aiming to incorporate systems thinking methodology is having an interactive design which brings about all the subsystems together to be studied as one whole system. Collaborative technology upholding systems thinking principles are the trend setters for social innovation.

Be it the area of international development, community projects, social system problems, food insecurity or inequality, systems thinking has something enriching to offer to every kind of system. While there are no set rules that can be applied to attain fool proof results, experimentation is key to finding the success sauce. It is crucial for non-profit as well as government organizations to benefit from the energy and solutions generated at such hackathons. Needless to say, our social systems are quite in need of Systems Thinking.

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