Bangladesh: Innovation, technology address humanitarian challenges in Asia and the Pacific

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Introduction

From biometric verification systems and drones to predictive forecast-based models and ‘virtual humanitarians’, innovation and technology provide adaptable solutions to address humanitarian challenges and have the potential to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. The acceleration of digitalization in Asia and the Pacific is rapidly reshaping systems and processes and broadening participation with positive implications for more effective and anticipatory humanitarian action. However, given persistent digital divides along gender, geographical, economic, age and many other lines that often intersect with existing vulnerabilities and underlying systemic socioeconomic inequalities, digital transformation risks increasing social exclusion of people in situations of vulnerability. In particular, it affects women, people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), older people, people with disabilities, people living in rural or hard to reach areas, indigenous people and ethnic minorities, and/or people living in poverty. Adopting a gender transformative approach to the use of innovation and technology in humanitarian settings is essential to ensure equitable access to humanitarian assistance, protection and information, while maximizing opportunities for people affected by crisis to shift the aid paradigm towards resilience and hold organizations accountable.

The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing region in the world in terms of early adoption and innovation in digital culture and digital economy, and it is also the region that is the most prone to disasters with more than three quarters of the global population of people displaced by disasters. Although the digital revolution is driving growth across the region, these gains have been unequal. As digital technologies become more widely available and invested in as potential drivers to accelerate data-driven humanitarian action, the different ways in which diverse population groups engage with digital services needs to be explored and understood. Key dimensions of the digital divide include access to mobile phones/smartphones, Internet connectivity, usability and infrastructure, as well as education, literacy, social norms, affordability and fears around privacy, safety and security.

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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

To learn more about OCHA’s activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

Bangladesh: Innovation, technology address humanitarian challenges in Asia and the Pacific
Source: Philippines Legacy PH