New MOOC Equips Humanitarian with Digital Savvy

Like virtually all organizations, humanitarian actors are impacted by the risks and opportunities in the rapidly and constantly evolving digital landscape. Reinforcing digital skills enables humanitarian workers to more efficiently provide emergency assistance for people impacted by crises such as war or natural disasters, and better protect these vulnerable populations. It helps them better adapt to new needs, assess risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions.

Participants gain a holistic understanding of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) - including computers, networks, privacy, cyber security and Artificial Intelligence. Ethics, accountability, humanitarian and do-no-harm principles, and inclusion are explored in the context of technology.

Combined expertise to advance digital skills in a unique sector

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The development of this ambitious training program is a joint effort by the ICRC, MSF and two centers at EPFL – the EssentialTech Centre and the Centre for Digital Trust (C4DT) – supported by the Center for Digital Education. The ICRC’s and MSF’s standing as leading humanitarian organizations, combined with EPFL’s recognized excellence in technology and digital education, make this a unique offering.

“As in all fields, humanitarian practitioners can gain important efficiencies and knowledge by applying technology to their practices,” says Grégoire Castella, Humanitarian Division Head, EPFL EssentialTech. “However, ethical questions and risk assessments are potentially even more important than in most fields, considering the critical timing in humanitarian crisis and the vulnerable populations they serve. This new MOOC will contribute to the successful digital transformation of humanitarian organizations.”

Sonja Loeffelmann, Digital Lead at MSF, adds: “This MOOC is for anyone involved in humanitarian action, not just from the ICRC and MSF. It has been designed to offer information relevant to the field at large. It will help the humanitarian sector extend its capacity for protection and assistance to the digital sphere. This is important to our shared mandate in a world facing serious challenges.”

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Comprehensive, relevant education

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“Many humanitarian practitioners – not all, of course – have limited background in advanced digital technologies,” says Philippe Stoll, Senior Techplomacy Delegate, ICRC. “This MOOC aims to fill that gap. We have brought on board over 40 expert presenters from 20 organizations to offer foundational learning in an easy-to-follow manner. It complements their existing experience and expertise in social action.”

Humanitarian Action in the Digital Age is available as a self-paced six-week course on the edX educational platform. No specific prerequisite or IT/technical knowledge is required. It is accessible for free or as a fee-paying verified track option with graded assignments and exams, and a shareable Certificate upon completion.

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