swissnex Boston hosted its first live webinar
swissnex Boston hosted its first live webinar
On Wednesday, May 12th, swissnex Boston hosted its first live seminar on the web. In partnership with the program on humanitarian policy and conflict research at the Harvard University, the seminar examined questions and challenges linked to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in humanitarian activities.
Increasingly used by humanitarian professionals in situations of emergency, armed conflicts and disasters, ICT has emerged as a component of effective and sustainable delivery of humanitarian relief. Yet ICT remains relatively under-theorized and utilized differently across contexts. Against the background of the increased use of ICT in humanitarian activities, the Live Seminar addressed the following questions:
· How have technological innovations shaped the roles and responsibilities of humanitarian professionals?
· In what ways has ICT affected the selection, collection, and dissemination of conflict-related information?
· What metrics are available to discern the scope and significance of ICT?s effects on coordinating humanitarian aid delivery?
· How has ICT transformed institutions providing humanitarian relief?
These questions were examined through critical inquiry into recent innovations in ICT, their application, and their (potential) consequences for humanitarian professionals. The experts were Sanjana Hattotuwa (ICT4Peace Foundation), Salem Avan (United Nations), Olivier J. Cottray (iMMAP), Mark Dalton (ReliefWeb), Mike Hartnett (Global Relief Technologies, Inc.), Patrick Meier (Harvard Humanitarian Initiative).
Please find here the link to the recorded version of the webinar:
