Navigating digitalization in disaster risk reduction

By Dr. Elena Lazutkaite, Dr Ahmed Amdihun and Alexander Müller

With contributions from the IGAD Climate Change Technical Working Group

In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, digital technologies were hailed as a critical tool for emergency response. Mobile phones and Global Positioning System (GPS) were used to coordinate search, rescue efforts and create open-source maps for affected areas, and to galvanize support through social media. However, as the dust settled, Haiti emerged as a sobering case study for the complex interplay between data, information, and power and an illustration of the disconnect between digital approaches and local communities.

The disconnect

Early Warning-Early Action Systems

Acknowledging both the urgency conveyed during the UNGA meeting and the need for effective solutions, it is crucial to place end users and beneficiaries at the forefront of programming before embarking on the implementation of digital solutions in DDR. One key consideration is understanding the local context and the scope of the problem, as well as limitations.

IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) based in Nairobi, Kenya, and TMG Research gGmbH are working together on governance of Early Warning-Early Action Systems to tackle compounding disaster risks in the IGAD region, which is experiencing increasing climate change and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The traditional approach to understanding risks and emergencies is no longer sufficient, and we are researching and designing innovative digital solutions that are regionally led, nationally owned, and locally implemented.

Reaching the last mile

What needs to be done differently?

Digitalization is not a panacea for all our problems, but a double-edged sword that can cut both ways. At a local community level, the understanding and usage of technology to anticipate disaster risks remains insufficient in the IGAD region where internet connectivity is low and electricity supplies erratic. To navigate the intricate landscape of digitalization in DDR, we must recognize the profound and unique challenges faced by developing countries.

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