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/11540/8711Metadata
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