Placing Digital Humanitarian Technologies

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The 'digital turn' is transforming how aid is understood, practiced and received. Humanitarian organisations, academics, businesses, the state and local communities are connecting in different ways, with new roles, responsibilities and expectations. Digital technologies such as smartphone apps, blockchain, machine learning, and drone/satellite data, augment current aid programmes, but also anticipate new digital practices of data collection, analysis, dissemination and storage intended to empower communities, reduce vulnerabilities, grow donorship monies, incentivise private-public investments, and promote environmental sustainability. This PhD, undertaken in collaboration with one of the world's largest humanitarian organisations, UNICEF, focuses on: (1) the drivers behind the rapid growth of 'humanitarian digital technologies'; and (2) the anticipated benefits and challenges inhering to the promotion of these digital technologies by aid organisations. Importantly, the PhD aims to make a substantial contribution to humanitarian programming by critically assessing (3) how these new practices are in turn being linked up using digital technologies, such that increased community service, for example, can centre on increasing the health of local ecological systems while also providing training in transferable skills for future employment or entrepreneurship. Working with UNICEF the PhD focuses on the experimental scheme Green YOMA [Youth Market Agency]. An offshoot of the global-wide YOMA programme, Green YOMA uses blockchain to verify youth engagement with sustainable projects so that their contributions can earn credits for further training and education, and uses machine learning to match CVs with future activities. Delving into the digitised linkages being set up by Green YOMA between individuals, NGOs and particularly the African Drone and Data Academy network, the PhD uses interviews, focus groups and crowdsourcing to map out if, how and with what effect this initiative challenges larger social divisions and empowers communities.