[Infographic] How PPPs between telecommunications and humanitarian agencies can save lives

19 March 2015

In preparation for their upcoming AIDF Asia: Aid & Response Summit, the Aid and International Development Forum (AIDF) has released a Mobile for Development infographic, visualising the growing ubiquity of the mobile phone in the developing world, its uses in disaster relief and resilience and highlighting partnerships between humanitarian agencies and telecommunication providers.

With 89% mobile penetration in the developing world, aid groups increasingly recognise that information and the ability to communicate are as important as physical aid. The infographic showcases the power of mobile technology in humanitarian aid: in 2013 Oxfam used mobile money to send cash to 1700 families and after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Red Cross reached out to half a million affected through SMS.

The infographic also includes a case study of the humanitarian partnership between Inmarsat and Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), providing the hospital serving refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese border with a vital satellite internet connection and communication base - facilitating faster, more efficient aid and mHealth services.

The infographic is a timely release for AIDF’s upcoming three day event AIDF Asia: Aid & Response Summit held at United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok on 16-18 June, the first day of which focuses on Mobile for Development and has panels on Mobile Money and Mobile Health. AIDF’s infographic shows that mobile penetration is very high and looks at how public-private partnerships in M4D are helping achieve development goals.

AIDF Event Director, Sonja Ruetzel commented, ‘The AIDF Mobile for Development infographic visually represents the growing uses of mobile technology in disaster response and humanitarian aid. I look forward to hearing our speakers collaborating on these ideas and on the latest trends and innovations in Mobile for Development at the Asia Summit.’

Over 400 senior delegates from regional governments, NGOs, UN agencies, investors and research institutes will gather in Bangkok to address how technological innovations and best practice can improve aid and development work in Asia-Pacific. For more information about the event and to register, please visit asia.aidforum.org.

Download Full Infographic Here.