Crossing the digital divide : applying technology to the global refugee crisis / Shelly Culbertson, James Dimarogonas, Katherine Costello, Serafina Lanna.

"Sponsored by Schmidt Futures."

"RAND Social and Economic Well-Being."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 89-98).

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Preface -- Contents -- Figures and Tables -- Summary -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- CHAPTER ONE: Introduction -- Study Approach -- Limitations -- Roadmap for This Report -- CHAPTER TWO: Roles and Responsibilities of Entities Involved in Using or Contributing to Technology in Refugee Settings -- Refugees -- Aid Agencies -- Host Countries -- Donors -- Technology Companies -- Consortia -- Universities and Research Organizations -- Conclusion -- CHAPTER THREE: Uses of Technology in Refugee Settings -- Internet Connectivity and Access -- Communication with Family and Friends -- Information for Journeys -- Establishment in New Locations -- Language -- Memory and Record Preservation -- Employment -- Education -- Aid Agency Management and Coordination -- Distribution of Assistance -- Data Collection and Analysis -- Registration -- Identity Management and Digital Identity Provision -- Conclusion -- CHAPTER FOUR: Refugees' Perspectives on Technology -- Access to Technology -- Uses of Technology -- Concerns About Technology -- Conclusion -- CHAPTER FIVE: Business Models for Developing and Deploying Technology in Refugee Settings -- What Is a Business Model? -- Applying the Business Model Components to Developing and Deploying Technology in Refugee Settings -- Barriers to (and Facilitators of) Developing and Deploying Technology in Refugee Settings -- Tools for Applying System-Level Thinking to Support the Development and Deployment of Technology in Refugee Contexts -- Conclusion -- CHAPTER SIX: Ethical, Security, and Privacy Issues Related to the Use of Technology in Refugee Settings -- Ethical Frameworks and Safeguards to Address Risks -- Data Responsibility -- Bias -- Conflicts of Interest -- Conclusion -- CHAPTER SEVEN: Conclusions and Recommendations -- Looking Ahead -- References.

In the past two decades, the global population of forcibly displaced people has more than doubled, from 34 million in 1997 to 71 million in 2018. Amid this growing crisis, refugees and the organizations that assist them have turned to technology as an important resource, and technology can and should play an important role in solving problems in humanitarian settings. In this report, the authors analyze technology uses, needs, and gaps, as well as opportunities for better using technology to help displaced people and improving the operations of responding agencies. The authors also examine inherent ethical, security, and privacy considerations; explore barriers to the successful deployment of technology; and outline some tools for building a more systematic approach to such deployment. The study approach included a literature review, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, and focus groups with displaced people in Colombia, Greece, Jordan, and the United States. The authors provide several recommendations for more strategically using and developing technology in humanitarian settings.

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