36th session WGET - ICT Humanitarian Innovation Forum

29 April2015

Yazeed Sheqem

Multi-channel Mobile Crisis Response Platforms:

Lessons Learned in the Middle East

• Cross-cutting technology solutions provider in the development sector

• Advisory services provider for M4D/ICT4D

• Key Sectors:– Humanitarian Response– Education & Youth– Economic Growth & Employment– Democracy & Governance– Women & Gender Equality– Monitoring & Evaluation

• Offices in MENA and North America• Project presence in 20+ countries in

MENA, Africa and Asia

Souktel has been providing technology solutions since 2006

Current activities:• Syrian refugee legal support services – with American Bar Association• ICRC staff tracking system for delivery of assistance to Ebola survivors• Palestine blood bank service – with PalTel Foundation

Recent activities:• Post-war radio service for affected communities in Gaza – with Internews• School safety program in Gaza – with UNESCO• Psychosocial support service in Gaza – with World Vision• Emergency demolitions information service in the West Bank – with UNOCHA• Food distribution services in Gaza – with WPF• Somali refugee radio feedback service in Dadaab – with Internews• Post-conflict radio service and data collection service in Mali – with Internews• Data collection on emergency aid distribution in Somalia – with UNDP/OCHA• Syria aid deliveries tracking system in Jordan – with IRC• Large-scale beneficiary outreach solution in Lebanon – with IRC

Recent and current activities in MENA and Africa

Souktel is an active player in the MENA humanitarian response community

In 2013, co-drafted “Guidelines for the Use of SMS in Natural Disasters”, in partnership with GSMA and the Qatar Foundation.

In 2014, partnered with IBM and the US State Department to train Palestinian youths on big data mapping to fight Ebola.

In 2014, Co-organized first-ever Middle East Summit on Mobile Technology and Crisis Response in Amman-Jordan.

Featured in UNICEF’s The State of the World’s Children 2015 report.

Souktel’s data collection surveys “give agencies up-to-the-minute information so that they can take quick and informed decisions about what to do”.– UN-OCHA Chair Valerie Amos

Souktel provides “life-saving information to people across the region, so they know where relief can be found”.– Hillary Clinton

Souktel one of “Five Apps Bringing the Next Billion People Online”– Wall Street Journal

The Next Revolution - Meet the Startups Reshaping the Middle East– Forbes Magazine

AdvisoryDesign

DevelopmentManagement

Monitoring & Evaluation

Staff & Beneficiary Tracking

DataMapping

Data Collection

Mobile Connectivity

Database Management

IVRSMS/USSDWeb / AppCall Centers

Data Analytics

Souktel develops multi-channel mobile technology solutions for humanitarian response.

Citizen-driven Data

Monitoring & Evaluation

Staff & Beneficiary Tracking

DataMapping

Data Collection

Mobile Connectivity

Database Management

IVRSMS/USSDWeb / App

Call Centers

Data Analytics

Collected citizen-driven data plays a key role in decision making and planning.

Is it viable to talk about an upcoming “Uberification” of humanitarian response? Yes, it seems.

• Leveraging supply and demand of humanitarian response services in real time• Crowd-sourcing of vital information at low cost and at scale• Improving decision making processes

The importance of multi-channel technology solutions will continue to grow. Our lessons learned...

• Improve the technology

• Address data security

• Secure funding and willingness to invest in technology

• Develop suitable and easily deployable content

• Build long-lasting partnerships

• Think sustainability

• Simplify the language – reduce jargon

Souktel Mobile Solutions

Yazeed SheqemDirector of Business Development – MENA and Africayazeed@souktel.com

Thank you for you attention!