Welcome to this week’s edition of Tom’s Aid & Development Dispatches, where we explore how technology, collaboration, and innovative finance are reshaping humanitarian response. From NetHope’s new guidance on leveraging AI in the nonprofit sector to the Danish Red Cross’s pioneering work on Group Cash Transfers in Malawi, we’re seeing a significant shift towards proactive, anticipatory action. We’ll also delve into the IFRC’s innovative insurance mechanism for disaster funding, ODI’s insights on the intersection of climate and conflict, and the growing challenge of technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Yemen. Let’s dive in and see how the humanitarian landscape is evolving for the better.
Harnessing AI for Humanitarian Impact: NetHope’s New Guidance
Following on thier Humanitarian AI Code of Conduct | NetHope. NetHope this week have released new and opertaional guidance, "The Guide to Usefulness of Existing AI Solutions in Nonprofit Organizations," serves as an essential resource for humanitarian actors who are eager to harness the power of AI in their work. This guidance focuses on practical AI applications that can significantly enhance disaster preparedness, response, and overall operational efficiency.
AI has already proven its capability to improve humanitarian operations by automating needs assessments, predicting crises before they strike, and optimizing logistics. NetHope’s guide highlights the importance of using AI for anticipatory action—an approach that allows organizations to act proactively rather than reactively in times of crisis. The guidance also offers solutions for tackling ethical challenges, ensuring AI is used responsibly, transparently, and inclusively.
I highly recommend this guide for any organization considering AI adoption. It provides a clear roadmap for leveraging AI’s benefits while navigating the associated risks—making sure that technology empowers rather than excludes those who need assistance the most.
Dive into NetHope’s latest guidance and see how AI can transform your humanitarian efforts for the better. Let’s work together to responsibly shape the future of crisis response. To read the full guide, visit NetHope’s website and get inspired by the potential of AI in humanitarian aid.
Empowering Communities Through Anticipatory Action: Group Cash Transfers in Malawi
I was very interested to read about the Danish Red Cross in Malawi recent work in Malawi, particularly their first-ever co-design workshop on anticipatory Group Cash Transfers (GCTs) in Mulanje. This 3-day workshop brought together key players, including the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS), local government stakeholders, and CARD Malawi, to plan and contextualize tools for the anticipatory GCTs pilots in Phalombe and Blantyre districts.
These pilots are an exciting step forward in providing timely, inclusive early action to communities at high risk ahead of the upcoming rainy season. With La Niña conditions expected to bring above-normal rainfall, the importance of preparedness cannot be overstated. The initiative aims to empower communities to prioritize their needs—whether through early evacuation support for people with disabilities in Phalombe or strengthening early warning systems in Blantyre.
Implemented as part of an Anticipatory Action program funded by ECHO, in collaboration with MRCS, the World Food Programme and FAO , this project represents a proactive approach to disaster resilience. It’s impressive to see how collaborative efforts can make anticipatory action a reality, ultimately protecting lives and livelihoods before disaster strikes.
Kudos to the Danish Red Cross, MRCS, and their partners for their commitment to proactive, community-driven solutions. I look forward to seeing the results of these pilots and the potential they have to be scaled up in future disaster preparedness initiatives.
Standing Tall Against Disasters: The Role of IFRC-DREF Insurance and Anticipatory Action
This week I was reading the 26/09/2024 blog post by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC and came across an exciting development: the IFRC-DREF Insurance. This new insurance mechanism is designed to enhance the effectiveness of the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) by leveraging commercial insurance markets.
What is IFRC-DREF Insurance?
The IFRC-DREF Insurance is an innovative finance mechanism developed in partnership with Aon and reinsurers. Instead of relying solely on traditional donor funding, this insurance approach allows donor contributions to stretch further by using insurance payouts when funding needs exceed a specific threshold. With an annual premium of CHF 3 million, the policy provides up to CHF 15 million in additional funding if disaster-related requests surpass the CHF 33 million deductible within a calendar year.
How Is It Being Used?
In 2024, the insurance triggered its first-ever payout. The increased demand for disaster relief—spurred by major events like Super Typhoon Yagi and Cyclone Remal—surpassed the CHF 33 million threshold, prompting an insurance payout. This additional funding ensures that Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies can respond swiftly and efficiently to the escalating impacts of natural hazards, providing much-needed relief to affected communities. The IFRC-DREF Insurance mechanism represents a significant innovation in humanitarian financing. It helps transfer the financial risk of increasing disaster demands to the private sector, ensuring funds are available for emergency response even during times of unanticipated need. This approach makes humanitarian aid more resilient and reliable, especially as climate change increases the frequency and severity of natural disasters.
Linking to Anticipatory Action
A key part of the IFRC’s future plans is to expand the insurance model to cover not just natural hazards but also epidemics and anticipatory actions. Anticipatory action involves taking steps before a disaster strikes, based on early warning systems and forecasts, to minimize impact and save lives. By including anticipatory actions, IFRC aims to ensure funding is available proactively, allowing humanitarian actors to act earlier and more effectively, ultimately reducing the overall burden on communities and resources. The IFRC hopes to maximize the impact of donor contributions through this insurance model, allowing them to be multiplied during particularly challenging years. This forward-thinking approach ensures that the IFRC network can continue to stand tall in the face of growing humanitarian needs, providing rapid support not only in response to disasters but also through anticipatory measures that help mitigate their effects.
To learn more about this innovative approach to disaster response, read the full IFRC-DREF Insurance report.
Navigating the Intersection of Climate and Conflict: Insights from ODI
This week, I read a thought-provoking report from ODI titled “Humanitarian Action on Climate and Conflict: Narratives, Challenges, and Opportunities.” It highlights how the overlapping challenges of climate change and conflict are driving some of the worst humanitarian crises, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCS).
The report underscores the increasing role humanitarian actors are forced to take as climate impacts worsen, with the humanitarian system often having to address climate issues due to limited adaptation investments in FCS. It emphasizes the need for anticipatory, collaborative, and localized action, focusing on resilience-building to address the growing climate and conflict risks.
Some key messages include:
- There is no purely humanitarian solution to climate impacts; the focus must shift to building long-term resilience in fragile settings.
- Better collaboration is essential—humanitarian actors need to work alongside climate and development actors to maximize collective impact.
- Existing funding models are inadequate for the scale of the challenges, and the humanitarian sector must adapt to effectively meet rising needs.
For those interested in how the humanitarian community can better adapt and mitigate the intertwined challenges of climate change and conflict, I highly recommend reading the full report. It’s a call for innovation, partnership, and rethinking our approach to humanitarian work in the face of our climate reality. To explore the report further, visit the ODI website.
Confronting Digital Violence: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Yemen
And finally was reading this week a new report published by ACAPS that highlighted the growing issue of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in Yemen. As internet use rises, TFGBV is becoming a serious threat to women and girls, including harassment, defamation, blackmail, and threats. The impact extends beyond the digital realm, leading to social isolation, mental health issues, and even threats of honour killings. Despite the severity, TFGBV remains largely underreported due to social stigma, weak legal protections, and safety concerns.
Key points from the ACAPS report:
- Rising Threat: TFGBV is increasingly affecting women and girls in Yemen as internet access grows, leading to harassment, defamation, and threats.
- Severe Consequences: The effects of TFGBV are not limited to online spaces; they include mental health challenges, forced social isolation, and even threats of honour killings.
- Underreporting: Social stigma, weak legal protections, and safety concerns prevent many survivors from reporting incidents.
- Need for Stronger Action: Effective responses require stronger legal frameworks, survivor-centered support services, and greater awareness.
- Role of Civil Society: Civil society organizations are providing essential support, but they need more resources and backing to adequately address TFGBV.
Creating an inclusive internet where women feel safe is crucial for progress.
To learn more about the challenges and potential solutions, read the full ACAPS report on TFGBV in Yemen at https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20240909_ACAPS_Middle_East_Hub__technology-facilitated_gender-based_violence_01.pdf