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    Is Use of Cyber-Based Technology in Humanitarian Operations Leading to the Reduction of Humanitarian Independence?

    Searls, Martin Stanley | June 2018
    Abstract
    Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are being tested and adopted at a significant rate in humanitarian emergency response. However, the crossing of physical, biological, and cyber domains that characterises these technologies threatens the independence of humanitarian organisations. This is occurring in an environment in which the value and purpose of independence is already seriously questioned, both in practice, and in principle. This paper argues that the loss of independence stems from two related trends. First, several 4IR technologies are improving the capacity of humanitarian organisations to gather, synthesise, and analyse data, resulting in the production of information of increasingly strategic, political or military value. Second, the cyber component of these technologies simultaneously renders that information more vulnerable to unauthorised access by third parties with relevant political, military or economic agendas. This parallels the “capability/ vulnerability paradox” identified in literature discussing cybersecurity in relation to the military or so-called “smart cities”. In conflict and disaster settings, this paradox increases the likelihood of humanitarian actors functioning as appendages of other organisations. This loss of independence potentially has operational implications relating to access, and material impact on the ongoing debate around the importance of independence in humanitarian work.
    Citation
    Searls, Martin Stanley. 2018. Is Use of Cyber-Based Technology in Humanitarian Operations Leading to the Reduction of Humanitarian Independence?. © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/8711.
    Keywords
    Results-Based Monitoring And Evaluation
    Project Evaluation & Review Technique
    Project Evaluation
    Program Evaluation
    Performance Evaluation
    Operations Evaluation
    Evaluation Methods
    Evaluation
    Disaster preparedness
    Disaster prevention
    Disaster management
    Emergency relief
    Flood control
    Fire prevention
    Natural disasters
    Man-made disasters
    Post-conflict recovery
    Fragile states
    Project impact
    Development projects
    Program management
    Performance appraisal
    Project appraisal
    Technology assessment
    Cumulative effects assessment
    Grievance procedures
    Participatory monitoring and evaluation
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    Citable URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11540/8711
    Metadata
    Show full item record
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    WP315.pdf (585.0Kb)
    Author
    Searls, Martin Stanley
    Theme
    Evaluation
    Disaster

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    Copyright 2016-2021 Asian Development Bank Institute, except as explicitly marked otherwise