Crossing the Digital Divide: Applying Technology to the Global Refugee Crisis

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Culbertson, Shelly

Culbertson

Contributor:

Costello, Katherine

Dimarogonas, James

Lanna, Serafina

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Digital divide.

Refugees--Services for.

Refugees.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (121 pages)

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, Calif. RAND Corporation 2019

Santa Monica, CA : RAND, [2019]

Summary:

In the past two decades, the global population of forcibly displaced people has more than doubled, from 34 million in 1997 to 71 million in 2018. Amid this growing crisis, refugees and the organizations that assist them have turned to technology as an important resource, and technology can and should play an important role in solving problems in humanitarian settings. In this report, the authors analyze technology uses, needs, and gaps, as well as opportunities for better using technology to help displaced people and improving the operations of responding agencies. The authors also examine inherent ethical, security, and privacy considerations; explore barriers to the successful deployment of technology; and outline some tools for building a more systematic approach to such deployment. The study approach included a literature review, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, and focus groups with displaced people in Colombia, Greece, Jordan, and the United States. The authors provide several recommendations for more strategically using and developing technology in humanitarian settings.

Notes:

"Sponsored by Schmidt Futures."

"RAND Social and Economic Well-Being."

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-9774-0388-3