Principled and Accountable Use of Technology in Humanitarian Action

Recent decades have been marked by the rapid emergence and proliferation of new technologies, transforming the daily lives of people around the world, including those in communities supported by humanitarian organisations. Technology appears to be essential in enabling humanitarian actors to carry out their work, particularly against a backdrop of growing needs and dwindling resources. After more than a decade of digital transformation, certain technologies have proved particularly useful for humanitarian work. These include the use of satellite imagery to map the impact of disasters; the sharing of vital information; the automation of administrative tasks; mobile payments to support affected communities; and assisted farming to improve food production. When used correctly, these technologies appear capable of helping to reach populations and provide support and services that would otherwise be inaccessible.

However, these new opportunities are also accompanied by new risks concerning people’s rights, dignity and autonomy. Without robust safeguards, the use of certain technologies risks undermining humanitarian principles, inadvertently harming affected communities, and eroding trust in humanitarian actors. These technologies may exacerbate existing inequalities by creating new divides between those who have access to them and those who do not. They risk exposing individuals and communities to new risks in digital spaces, such as cybercrime, mental health issues or disinformation. Finally, they introduce new actors and tools that are bound neither by humanitarian principles nor by the imperative of ‘primum non nocere’. Against this backdrop, there is growing attention being paid to the potential negative impacts of technology on fundamental rights, conflicts, the environment and security, and respect for humanitarian principles – as well as calls for greater transparency, responsibility and accountability – is increasing, particularly from public authorities and humanitarian organisations.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

The adoption of the first digital transformation strategy of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 2021 committed IFRC members to a digital transformation process that respects the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This process aims to ensure that the Movement’s use of technology is consistent with its mission and does not undermine the trust of communities. The IFRC’s analysis of the Movement’s digital maturity provides a benchmark and helps to identify certain gaps and opportunities in this area.

The ICRC’s Technology Strategy 2025 also emphasises that any use of digital tools must be assessed in the light of compliance with the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality. The ICRC Data Protection Manual, for its part, addresses data protection issues related to the use of technology and artificial intelligence. Finally, the Movement’s reference frameworks on artificial intelligence (2024) and biometrics (2019) are based on the Fundamental Principles and aim to help staff safely explore the humanitarian potential of these technologies.

This research programme aims to deepen the debate and advance the state of knowledge on the responsible use of technology in humanitarian action. By supporting original research carried out in low- and middle-income countries, the programme seeks to enrich knowledge and evidence on the various ways of promoting the ethical, safe and responsible use of technology in humanitarian work, whilst minimising risks to communities.

Crédit photo : © Moeletsi Mabe / IFRC

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