RESILIENCE-STRENGTHENING TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
While technology cannot address all barriers to resilience, it is a powerful enabler in strengthening resilience characteristics and empowering communities. Smart phones, social media, sharing economies and other tools are already helping to redesign emergency preparedness and response operations by:
As we enter the next generation of technology solutions, we also have the opportunity and responsibility to harness emerging tools that people can use and adapt to strengthen their own resilience to crisis shocks. The Dialogue revealed that emerging technology solutions must possess eight of its own criteria to effectively improve and expand a community’s ability to prepare for emergencies, help people respond to increasing risks, and assist their recovery.
A Resilience-Strengthening Technology Solution...
- … is multi-purpose. It is relevant and useful before, during and after emergencies as well as in daily life.
- … is human-centered. It is developed in consultation with users and designed to address their wants and needs. It is therefore, by default, appropriate for the culture and lifestyle of its users and stakeholders. It is also supported by robust community outreach and education, and it is easy to learn and use.
- … is accessible. It is open, inclusive and increasingly affordable for consumers.
- … is governed by trustworthy leaders, systems and policies. It has access to relevant data and responsibly manages the data it generates.
- … is scalable or replicable. It grows to accommodate demand.
- … is sustainable. It is reliable and permanent. It has the required financial resources to support its current use and growth, but does not compromise natural resources or the interests of future generations.
- … is resilient itself. It is ready, rugged and able to withstand weather, wear, pressure and damage. It is power-efficient and increasingly leverages innovative sources of energy. It is supported by a network of redundant products and services, with which it is interoperable. It leverages the Internet when available but does not rely on it.
- … enhances community-level knowledge and health, connection, organization, economic opportunities, access to infrastructure and services, and/or management of natural resources.