GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation Report pinpoints five mobile technology trends in the humanitarian sector
GSMA published its annual Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) report which documents the progress of the M4H programme and partners in 2020, highlighting the key trends impacting the humanitarian sector in 2020, and summarising the activities and outcomes of the research. The report, which assesses the prevailing trends related to the role of mobile technology in the humanitarian sector and how they are shaping humanitarian action, identifies five main trends in the sector:
- The pandemic has accelerated the need for inclusive digital humanitarian assistance to address the restrictions on movement
- There is a greater focus on digital ethics, privacy, and data protection being integral parts of protecting life, integrity, and dignity
- Accountability to affected populations and inclusion are being prioritised which raised awareness of the digital divide and the intersectional dimensions and the importance of addressing them.
- A climate emergency is underway which mooted better preparedness and response capabilities and fortified the role of mobile technology in addressing the climate emergency, from mitigation to response and recovery.
- Digital cash assistance is proving to be a scalable solution since delivering cash assistance via mobile money presents transformational benefits to recipients of aid, humanitarian organisations, and mobile operators