humanitarian.info
Stop thinking about technologies.
Start thinking about networks.
I’ve worked for over 25 years as an independent consultant at the intersection of humanitarian assistance and emerging technologies. In my policy analysis, I identify leverage points in the humanitarian system. In my technical practice, I build solutions which use that leverage to create change which benefits the recipients of aid.
Three Pillars of Digital Practice
Data
Effective aid requires reliable data. I help organisations implement practical data stewardship models and standards that ground theoretical policy in field realities – and emphasise the rights of people affected by crisis.
Systems
The sector is a collection of systems in silos. I identify leverage points which can lead to change, and the shared problem spaces where diverse actors can find solutions through systems thinking and interoperability.
Governance
Technology is never neutral. I work with key stakeholders to design policy frameworks that ensure digital transformation leads to better outcomes, rather than just more complex bureaucracy.
Projects
Financial Infrastructure
I co-founded Disberse, a blockchain-based financial institution aimed at improving transparency and efficiency through identifying leverage points in the financial system.
Open Source Software
I co-founded the Sahana Software Foundation as a vehicle for the open source emergency management platform I was involved in building after the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Information Management
I managed Humanitarian Information Centres in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Liberia. We pioneered information management systems during the industry’s first digital transition.
Tools
Data Stewardship
I lead the creation of the Data Stewardship Toolkit, a collection of tools including the Hotpot platform, to enable coordination bodies to collectively manage shared data.
Needs Assessment
I was the author of the ACAPS / ECB Project Good Enough Guide to Humanitarian Needs Assessment, focusing on practical, actionable tools for practitioners in the field.
NGO Coordination
I was co-author of ICVA’s NGO Coordination Guide and its associated Case Studies, one of the few resources for NGOs to set up and manage their own coordination mechanisms.
Policy
Network Humanitarianism
I wrote a seminal report for the Overseas Development Institute exploring how networked technologies are fundamentally reshaping the aid industry.
Digital Identity
I co-wrote Identity at the margins, about ID systems for refugees, and developed the CCD Network’s work on data portability into the data stewardship framework.
ICT4Peace
I co-wrote the seminal UN ICT Task Force report Information and communication technology for peace, for the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society.