Célébration des 7 ans de l'aide humanitaire numérique : Réflexion sur l'impact du 510

510 (l'initiative Data & Digital de la Croix-Rouge néerlandaise) fête ses 7 ans d'existence.^th year anniversary this month. Founded in 2016, 510 has become one of the leading data & digital establishments supporting humanitarian organizations in providing aid to people affected in some of the world’s most hazardous and conflict-ridden areas. Together with the 510 team, we are looking back at 7 matters in which 510 made an impact throughout the years.

Ce que nous faisons
En savoir plus sur la produits et services offerts par le 510 (pdf).

‘We support National Societies with data and digital products and services for Anticipatory Action, Cash & Voucher Assistance, Digital Transformation, Emergency support, Digital Engagement and Water & Landscape. Our dedicated team of staff, professional volunteers and research students are  the backbone of our work. It’s incredible to see how many national societies we have been able to support with improving their humanitarian operations’
-Maarten van der Veen (fondateur et chef d'équipe 510)

 1. Libérer le potentiel de l'action anticipée
L'action anticipative transforme les prévisions et les avertissements, qui sont des descriptions du temps qu'il fera, en évaluations de ce que le temps fera, permettant ainsi aux organisations et aux individus du monde entier d'atténuer les effets des phénomènes météorologiques et climatiques extrêmes tels que les typhons, les inondations et les sécheresses. Notre travail d'action anticipée consiste à identifier les indicateurs clés de ces événements et leur impact sur les systèmes sociaux, économiques et environnementaux, et à élaborer des stratégies et des solutions susceptibles d'atténuer les effets négatifs de ces facteurs et d'aider à renforcer la résilience des communautés et des sociétés.

“Anticipatory action is an essential addition to humanitarian response and preparedness, as it is about acting before a disaster occurs to reduce its impact on communities and their livelihoods.”
-Marc van den Homberg (coordinateur thématique Action anticipée 510)

Presently, 510 has supported 12 National Societies with their Anticipatory Action efforts in close collaboration with the Host and Partner National Societies, IFRC, and the Climate Centre. 510s support focuses on characterizing risk, developing hazard-impact databases, trigger models, and a corresponding decision support tool (510s Impact-based forecasting portal). 510 developed trigger models for multiple hazards, such as drought, floods, tropical cyclones, and epidemics. The trigger model for tropical cyclones in the Philippines has been adopted by other agencies. 510 developed together with the Philippine and German Red Cross the Typhoon Trigger Model, which reached its next stage of Maturity. The model not only triggers the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), but also the UN’s Central Emergency Respond Fund (CERF) and Anticipatory Action funds of other NGOs in the Philippines. 510’s Impact Based Forecasting Portal (IBF Portal) is a digital one-stop-shop of information that supports the decision-making of disaster managers during anticipatory action operations. The IBF Portal visualizes this Trigger Model and gives clear actionable steps for a National Society. The IBF Portal has been implemented in more than 10 countries. Two recent examples are flood and drought anticipatory action in Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively. In 2022 the IBF Portal for floods became fully operational in Zambia. For droughts, the Trigger Model has been developed together with the Zimbabwe Red Cross and it became.

2. Soutenir la distribution numérique de l'aide en espèces et sous forme de bons
Cash aid is an important part of humanitarian aid, as it allows people to meet their basic needs in times of crisis. In times of conflict and disasters, Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) can provide essential support to those affected, allowing them to purchase vital items such as food, shelter, and medical supplies. CVA is also a more efficient way of providing aid, as it allows affected communities to choose the items that best suit their needs. Furthermore, this form of humanitarian aid can be used as economic stimulus, providing an impetus for economic growth in areas that have been affected by crises. In this way, Cash and Voucher Assistance has the potential to provide much-needed relief to people in vulnerable situations in a way that is both effective and empowering. La Fédération internationale des Sociétés de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (FICR) est un leader mondial de l'assistance en espèces et en bons d'achat et s'est engagée à fournir 50% de son aide humanitaire sous forme d'espèces et de bons d'achat d'ici à 2025..

“Cash and Voucher Assistance is a vital tool in the humanitarian field, providing families and individuals with the ability to purchase the essential necessities and resources they need to survive and rebuild their lives.”
-Lars Stevens (coordinateur thématique Assistance sous forme d'espèces et de bons 510)

To this end, 121 is a Cash Information Management platform that we co-designed with people affected and aid workers. It aims to support National Societies to scale up their cash programs. The platform launched in 2021 to support undocumented migrants in undocumented situations in the Netherlands, and the platform started being scaled up internationally in 2022. In addition, 510 provides Cash Information Management services to National Societies which reduces the administrative workload and introduces bite-size digital improvements in providing people affected with cash or vouchers. In 2020 for instance, the cash program in Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten reached 3500% more people than before by digitizing the local operations. So far, 510 has supported over 30 National Societies in their cash programs.

3. Exploiter le pouvoir de l'engagement et de la responsabilité de la communauté
Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) is a way of working that recognizes and values all community members as equal partners whose diverse needs, priorities and preferences guide everything the Red Cross Red Crescent network does. This is achieved by integrating meaningful community participation, open and honest communication and mechanisms to listen to and act on feedback data.  It is an essential component in the humanitarian sector as it allows  communities to be involved in decisions that directly affect their lives. Evidence and experience shows that CEA helps to ensure that solutions are tailored to the needs of the community, which make them more appropriate, effective and sustainable. CEA also helps to build trust between communities and humanitarian actors, providing opportunities to foster relationships, create local networks, and build resilience. It provides humanitarian actors with local knowledge, needs and insights which help  to inform decision-making and the design of intervention

“Community Engagement and Accountability is essential to the success of any humanitarian effort. It gives the people  who are most affected by disasters or crises the opportunity to raise their voice and ensures that programs and operations are meaningful, sustainable and of high quality“
-Jonath Lijftogt (coordinateur thématique Engagement communautaire et responsabilité 510)

The IFRC aims to place local communities at the very centre of change so that actions are effective, inclusive and sustainable. With Digital CEA, 510 supports this process. Our team designs and develops products and services that help National Societies and their partners in having meaningful and scalable engagement with the communities they serve. The first Digital CEA product, the Helpful Information as Aid web-app, was launched in 2020 to provide information about services the Red Cross Red Crescent network or other (local) aid organizations offer. This first app of this kind  was designed with and for undocumented migrants living in the Netherlands and has been visited over 5.000 times to date. In 2022, HIA was also used to help Netherlands Red Cross staff and volunteers answer Frequently Asked Questions from people fleeing Ukraine who were arriving in the Netherlands. To further support the IFRC and National Societies in their response to the conflict in Ukraine, 510 created a tool and a process for Social Media Listening (SML). We pull data from instant messaging platforms to see what people affected by the crisis think about their situation, what they need and how they interact with humanitarian organizations providing support. Combining qualitative and quantitative data and identifying key trends from these conversations helps the IFRC and the National Societies mitigate risks and define, implement and improve (CEA) programs and information campaigns.

Enfin, en collaboration avec la FICR, plusieurs sociétés nationales, le Conseil norvégien pour les réfugiés et d'autres partenaires, le 510 a travaillé sur le pilotage et la mise en œuvre du Digital Engagement Hub (DEH). Avec DEH, nous visons à créer un ensemble de produits standardisés qui facilite l'engagement local, évolutif et significatif à travers des dispositifs numériques et des canaux de communication entre les organisations humanitaires et les communautés. Jusqu'à présent, nous avons collaboré avec huit Sociétés nationales sur le DEH.

4. Renforcer la fourniture de l'aide grâce à la transformation numérique
La transformation numérique peut améliorer considérablement l'efficience et l'efficacité des secours humanitaires et des efforts de préparation, car elle permet de mieux identifier et cibler les personnes qui ont besoin d'aide et de veiller à ce que les ressources soient distribuées de manière plus équitable. En outre, la transformation numérique peut contribuer à rationaliser le processus de fourniture de l'aide, par exemple en favorisant un processus d'enregistrement plus efficace pour les communautés touchées. Enfin, elle peut également contribuer à améliorer l'efficacité de la collecte et de l'analyse des données, qui peuvent ensuite être utilisées pour élaborer des stratégies de secours et de préparation plus efficaces.

“Digital transformation is a key enabler of smart and accountable humanitarian aid. It allows us to better understand and respond to the needs of people in vulnerable positions, and it increases our capacity to reach and interact with them.
-Liselot Kattemölle (Thematic coordinator Digital Transformation 510)

Dans sa Stratégie 2030, la Fédération internationale des Sociétés de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge (FICR) met en avant la transformation numérique comme l'une des principales transformations nécessaires pour relever les défis mondiaux de cette décennie. À ce titre, la FICR a adopté une stratégie de transformation numérique en 2021 afin d'accélérer l'utilisation de la technologie dans les services humanitaires fournis par ses 192 Sociétés nationales. Le 510 est un moteur clé de cet objectif stratégique en développant des produits et services numériques avec les Sociétés nationales, mais aussi en les guidant dans la mise en place de données et de capacités numériques pour améliorer les services humanitaires qu'elles fournissent.

Together with the IFRC Digital Transformation team, 510 has led the development and implementation of a digital transformation assessment that supports National Societies to map their current and desired capacity for people, processes, and technology.  This assessment methodology has been adopted in more than 50 National Societies, in collaboration with IFRC regional offices, the Spanish Red Cross, and the British Red Cross. 510 guides National Societies to mobilize resources based on their digital transformation assessments. Moreover, 510 is a key contributor to the IFRC’s Data Playbook which was launched in July 2022, with the help of 100s of Red Cross Red Crescent staff, volunteers, and partners. This tool includes social learning content that is designed to assist National Societies in their data journey. In addition, a free Data and Digital literacy introduction course became available that is intended for anyone interested in learning about data, information, digital technologies, and their responsible use within the context of humanitarian aid.

5. Allocation efficace des ressources grâce à l'aide d'urgence
Lorsque des catastrophes ou des conflits provoquent des souffrances et des difficultés pour les populations vulnérables, l'aide d'urgence est nécessaire pour fournir des secours et une aide essentiels, notamment de la nourriture et des abris, des soins médicaux et un soutien psychosocial. En tant que telle, l'aide d'urgence est un élément important d'une réponse humanitaire plus large, car elle contribue à garantir que les personnes touchées par les catastrophes reçoivent l'aide dont elles ont besoin pour se rétablir.

“Data and digital tools are  essential in providing a rapid, coordinated, and effective response to humanitarian crises. It is a vital way to improve the efficiency of aid to people affected.”
-Jacopo Margutti (coordinateur thématique Soutien d'urgence 510)

L'aide d'urgence à l'aide de données et d'outils numériques est un domaine de travail clé depuis le tout début du 510. Nous avons été déployés plus de 20 fois en tant que les gestionnaires de l'information into affected areas, directly supporting field-level operations and using those experiences to build more and better digital tools to help aid workers in emergencies. Damage assessments are a great example: after Hurricane Irma caused great devastation in Sint Maarten in 2017, 510 conducted a  Damage Assessment using drones that were flown over the island, cataloging and open-sourcing more than 13,000 buildings.   Following that experience,  we researched how to automate the procedure, and ultimately deployed a fully Automated  Damage Assessment (ADA) for the emergency response to the  2020  Beirut port explosion. ADA is based on a deep learning model that identifies damaged buildings in high-resolution satellite images. Automating this assessment makes it faster and far less dependent on human effort, therefore enabling 510 to quickly deliver the information that is needed. Most recently, ADA was deployed in response to the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria at the beginning of this year, to map damage in eight cities across the region and thus help the Red Cross and Red Crescent teams prioritize intervention areas and resource allocation.

6. Solutions numériques pour la gestion de l'eau et des paysages
In the humanitarian sector, data and digital water and landscape support allow for more efficient and targeted water resource management. By using digital tools to monitor and support water resources, humanitarian workers can better understand the needs of communities, identify areas of vulnerability and provide more effective and sustainable water solutions as a form of relief to people in vulnerable situations around the globe. Digital water and landscape support also enable humanitarian workers to provide relief to more remote areas, as it can provide a faster and more accurate picture of the environment. Being at the forefront of responding to global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs, the IFRC aims to protect nature and lives and to reduce disaster risks by working with nature.

“Access to safe, clean water and the protection of our landscapes are fundamental to the health and wellbeing of all people.”
-Marijke Panis (coordinatrice thématique Eau et paysage 510)

To this end, 510 developed the Landscape Restoration Toolbox. One of the tools, Historical Analysis, allows for easy comparison between two satellite images of the same region. The tool shows which areas have been affected by deforestation. The site suitability analysis helps identify zones that should be prioritized in the response, as well as zones where the reforestation success rate may be higher, making it an important decision support tool that can guide project managers in selecting the areas to be reforested first. An example of landscape restoration is the Green Pearls project in Haiti, a country in the Caribbean that is prone to frequent earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. Since 2019, the Haiti Red Cross Society and the Netherlands Red Cross under the Princess Margriet Fund have been working to restore Haiti’s reputation as the ‘Green Pearl’ of the Caribbean through the development of many smaller green pearls – communities that balance human needs with natural resources and economic development. After Haiti was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in August 2021, 510’s Historical Analysis tool played an important role in this project by providing a scan of satellite images before and after the earthquake to create an overview of the most affected areas to be restored. At the time, the 510 data team provided regular digital support, giving insight into the situation, risks and opportunities.510 has been supporting the Dutch Surge Support (DSS-Water) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)Team with Information Management support. DSS-Water and 510 aim to rapidly respond in emergency situations, making use of the DSS-Water network of experts to deploy suitable candidates into the field at the request of humanitarian organizations. 510 provides technical expertise to support deployed water experts working in a humanitarian context. DSS-Water experts most often have a background in Civil Engineering, Environment, or Health, but not necessarily Information Management. As an example, in collaboration with the IOM WASH team, DSS Water, Deltares and 510 experts worked on a modèle d'inondation pour un drainage durable au Nigeria.As part of the Fellowship “Analytics for a Better World in late 2022, 510 also worked on an analysis to identify areas in three localities in West Darfur State, Sudan, which are most suitable for borehole sampling, taking into account the presence of population, flood risk and social unrest. Read more about this project including code on GitHub ici

7. Unir les étudiants et les volontaires pour faire progresser l'aide humanitaire
Les volontaires et les étudiants font partie intégrante du succès des efforts humanitaires car ils apportent une richesse de connaissances, d'expérience et d'enthousiasme à tout projet humanitaire. Les volontaires en 510 sont une source inestimable de soutien pour l'équipe, car ils renforcent nos projets grâce à leurs compétences en science des données, en analyse des données, en conception, en science de l'information géographique, en traduction, en développement de logiciels, en responsabilité des données et en économie d'entreprise. Soit par le biais de collaborations avec des organisations telles que Analytics for a Better World, soit par le biais d'individus désireux de contribuer régulièrement à un monde meilleur. Entre-temps, les étudiants apportent à 510 les dernières avancées scientifiques qui sont ensuite appliquées dans des projets au cours de travaux de recherche de troisième cycle ou d'un stage en collaboration avec des universités. En général, la majorité de nos étudiants travaillent sur l'action anticipative. Nos volontaires travaillent sur tous les projets du 510. En s'engageant avec des étudiants, les organisations peuvent s'assurer qu'ils sont équipés des compétences et des connaissances nécessaires pour aborder efficacement les problèmes auxquels ils s'attaquent. Depuis 2016, le 510 a eu l'honneur de travailler avec plus de 200 bénévoles professionnels, plus de 100 bénévoles d'entreprise, 16 stagiaires et 138 étudiants en recherche.

“Volunteers and students are the spark that accelerates projects within 510, essentially increasing the efficiency of humanitarian aid and reaching more affected people.”
-Corina Markodimitraki (coordinatrice des volontaires 510)

Perspectives d'avenir
À mesure que la technologie progresse, l'utilisation des données et des outils numériques deviendra de plus en plus vitale pour améliorer la rapidité, la qualité et le rapport coût-efficacité de l'aide humanitaire. Ils permettent d'identifier les besoins, de cibler les ressources, de suivre les progrès et de mesurer les résultats importants, ainsi que de comprendre et de suivre l'impact des interventions et de s'assurer que les populations les plus vulnérables sont atteintes et servies. En outre, les données et les outils numériques peuvent être utilisés pour fournir un retour d'information en temps réel, ce qui permet aux organisations de s'adapter et de répondre rapidement à l'évolution des besoins. L'utilisation des données et des outils numériques dans le domaine humanitaire créera des opportunités pour des interventions plus efficaces et efficientes et, en fin de compte, un monde plus durable et équitable pour tous. Au cours des prochaines années, le 510 se concentrera sur l'extension des produits et services existants, en travaillant en étroite collaboration avec la FICR, le CICR et les Sociétés nationales. Nous voulons nous assurer que nous pouvons aider les Sociétés nationales à soutenir des millions de personnes affectées. Notre objectif est d'être totalement complémentaire de ce que les autres membres de notre réseau offrent. Nous nous concentrerons sur la durabilité de ces produits et services, afin de nous assurer que nous pouvons les fournir avec une grande qualité sur une longue période. Nous innoverons avec des modèles commerciaux qui nous permettront, ainsi qu'aux Sociétés nationales, de mettre en œuvre des produits et services numériques et de données de manière rentable.

“Data and digital technology in the humanitarian field continues to create powerful possibilities for a safer future. With the right investments and commitment, data and digital solutions can revolutionize the way we tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.”
-Maarten van der Veen (fondateur et chef d'équipe 510)

Ce que nous faisons
En savoir plus sur les produits et services offerts par 510 ici.