Introduction

The importance of mobile technology for women in refugee contexts

1.7 billion women now own a mobile phone in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), and over a billion use mobile internet. As the reach of mobile has grown, it has become an increasingly powerful tool with which to deliver life-enhancing information, services and opportunities to millions who have not been able to access them before.

Executive summary

This report, through an extensive literature review and stakeholder interviews, brings new focus on the complex identity-related challenges faced by urban refugees in Jordan, the tenth largest refugee-hosting nation in the world. UNHCR’s year-end 2017 data states that there are nearly 691,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan, and 85 per cent are presumed to be living outside of camps.

Executive Summary

The GSMA consulted with industry experts across five main thematic areas to better understand the opportunities, benefits and challenges of building a digital ecosystem for humanitarian contexts.

These key thematic areas are:

– Gender and inclusivity;

– Mobile financial services;

– Food security and climate change;

– Digital identity; and

– Mobile-enabled utilities.

Public and Private Sectors Collaborate to Accelerate Delivery and Impact of Digital Humanitarian Assistance

Barcelona: The GSMA and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) today announced the launch of ‘Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation’ (M4H), a programme designed to accelerate the delivery and impact of digital humanitarian assistance. Through M4H, the public and private sectors will leverage new technologies to create durable solutions that improve access to and use of mobile-enabled services, enhancing emergency preparedness, response and recovery.