Vodafone, in partnership with the UN Foundation, is in the process of developing mobile technology solutions for humanitarian needs. The first step is to identify needs so as to develop suitable solutions. Claire Thwaites in her presentation mentioned five needs rated as most significant, out of over thirty needs identified from a number of focus groups.

This was in a session I was able to attend today, on the humanitarian technology challenge: in search of innovative solutions.

Identified needs include: reliable electricity, data connection for rural district health offices, local management tracking of supply distribution, incident tracking, and connecting patients to health records.

Also highlighted during the session is that sociological realities have to be taken into consideration when developing technology. It is well and good to have technology that will solve humanitarian needs, but people who need help in identified areas might not be conversant with the technology.  

To avoid developing solutions that will not be used, a suggested solution is to involve people or organisations who are already doing some work in identified areas.