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Using mobile phone technologies for Disaster Risk Management – Reflections from SHEAR

Abstract

In October 2020, the Science for Humanitarian Emergencies and Resilience (SHEAR) programme hosted a virtual workshop which explored the use of mobile technologies to support disaster risk management. The workshop brought together approximately 45 members from 20 organisations across the SHEAR Programme and a selection of external experts to share and record their experiences. Participants included physical and social scientists, public and private researchers, technological developers, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and federal, local, and intergovernmental officials. The educational and professional backgrounds of these workers was highly varied and included: scientific experts involved in trialling new technologies; experts working more closely with communities in developing countries over long time periods; those involved in the short-term distribution of emergency aid; non-professional participants (“citizen scientists”) in community-level initiatives; and data visualisation and risk communication experts. The breadth and depth of expertise and experience from workshop participants provided an opportunity to gather key learnings and examine common challenges and opportunities where mobile technologies could be usefully harnessed through different stages of the DRM lifecycle, and across different regions. This publication summarises the key learnings from the workshop: how mobile phone technologies are used in DRM, and the opportunities and lessons for applied research.

Further Information

Collections Practical Action Consulting
Issue Date 17/06/2021
Format PDF
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