Disaster Response GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter: Annual Report 2016
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Disaster Response GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter: Annual Report 2016 FEBRUARY 2017 GSMA HUMANITARIAN CONNECTIVITY CHARTER: ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Disaster Response CONTENTS The GSMA represents the interests of mobile The GSMA Disaster Response programme aims FOREWORDS 4 operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators to strengthen access to communications and with almost 300 companies in the broader mobile information for those affected by crisis in order GSMA 4 ecosystem, including handset and device makers, to reduce loss of life and positively contribute UK Department for International Development 5 software companies, equipment providers and to humanitarian response. We work to drive the internet companies, as well as organisations in creation and adoption of coordinated, impactful CREATING A CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS: 6 adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces solutions and practices that leverage the ubiquity THE STORY OF THE HUMANITARIAN CONNECTIVITY CHARTER industry-leading events such as Mobile World of the mobile technology under the umbrella of the Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile Humanitarian Connectivity Charter. The Charter Today – A Global Footprint 10 World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Humanitarian Connectivity Charter Timeline 2015 - 2017 12 Series of conferences. Learn more at www.gsma.com/disasterresponse or contact us at [email protected] THE NUMBERS 16 For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com Follow GSMA Mobile For Development on THE CHARTER IN ACTION 18 Twitter: @GSMAm4d Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA KEY FOCUS AREAS OF 2016 22 Displacement and connectivity 23 Mobile money and humanitarian cash transfers 24 Innovation 24 REGIONAL OVERVIEWS 27 Asia Pacific 28 Middle East and North Africa 32 This initiative is currently funded by the UK Sub-Saharan Africa 36 Department for International Development (DFID), Latin America 40 and supported by the GSMA and its members. OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS 44 THE YEAR AHEAD 48 Contents | 3 GSMA GSMA HUMANITARIAN CONNECTIVITY CHARTER: ANNUAL REPORT 2016 Forewords GSMA UK Department for International Development In 2012, GSMA established the Disaster Response grown to over 100 Mobile Network Operator members Natural and man-made disasters destroy lives and it is The potential for mobile technology to positively programme at the request of its members. Recognising and six endorsing humanitarian partners, with reach often the poorest and most vulnerable who suffer the impact people’s lives in disaster situations has never the critical role played by Mobile Network Operators across more than 75 countries. most. Since 2000, 3.5 billion people have been affected been greater, with 4.9 billion unique phone subscribers (MNOs) and mobile technology in supporting by humanitarian emergencies. across the world today. What is needed is a concerted preparedness and response to humanitarian crises, Today we are proud to launch the Humanitarian effort across public and private sectors to strengthen the programme aimed to build an understanding Connectivity Charter Annual report, highlighting MNO The Department for International Development (DFID) access to communication and information for those of how the mobile industry could most effectively signatory efforts and progress to support disaster is demonstrating the UK’s commitment to supporting affected by crises. No one sector can do this alone. coordinate and improve resilience in times of disaster. preparedness and response activities around the and protecting those worst affected by conflict and It also sought to identify how the industry could best world during 2016. As part of the mobile industry natural disasters. From leading the fight against Ebola This is why DFID is supporting the GSMA’s Disaster support individuals, communities and humanitarian commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, in Sierra Leone or reaching people affected by the 2015 Response programme and its Humanitarian organisations on the ground following crises. this inaugural annual report charts the development earthquakes in Nepal within hours, to providing the Connectivity Charter, as part of our Mobile for and roll-out of the HCC as the mobile industry umbrella opportunity for jobs and education to those caught up Development Strategic Partnership. Under the Charter, Since the launch of the programme, the threat and initiative on this topic, capturing global efforts to in the Syria crisis - support from DFID is saving lives mobile network operators, humanitarian agencies frequency of humanitarian crises have unfortunately address crises ranging from the ongoing refugee crisis and tackling problems at source. and governments are working together to improve only increased. However, the mobile industry in Europe, through to typhoons in the Philippines. This preparedness and resilience and to reduce loss of life in has continued to evolve to meet this challenge, report will act as a baseline against which to measure Across the range of contexts in which DFID works, disaster situations. by harnessing connectivity, new technology and progress in the coming years. we have witnessed first-hand the powerful role that innovation. MNOs around the world have worked to mobile technology can play for both emergency This Annual Report illustrates the real impact that has not only protect their businesses and staff from these We understand that transformation will not happen response teams and affected people. Mobile phones been achieved by initiatives undertaken by Signatories events, but to use their networks and scale to protect overnight. Signing the Humanitarian Connectivity are not only a lifeline during the response phase for and Partners of the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter. and prepare the communities where they operate. Charter is the start of a journey, not the end point. But contacting emergency services, calling a loved one, or We applaud their work in rising to the increasingly Our industry has also deepened and established new importantly the process has begun, and collectively we providing insights into population movements; they complex challenges presented by humanitarian partnerships in recognition of the challenge that will work to build capacity across our industry. are also essential for improving the preparedness of disasters and in securing a safer world for all. humanitarian emergencies present, and our shared vulnerable populations, for example through early responsibility to assist. At the GSMA, we believe that when you restore the warning alerts via SMS. mobile network, you begin rebuilding the human In 2015 we launched the Humanitarian Connectivity network. To our existing signatories and partners, Charter (HCC) to enable the industry and our thank you. We look forward to engaging with partners James Wharton MP humanitarian partners to formalise their commitments both new and old in the year ahead, to continue to to enhancing their capacity to mitigate, prepare and strengthen access to communication and information respond to disasters through mobile technology. From for those affected by crisis, in order to reduce loss of three founding signatories, the Charter community has life and positively contribute to humanitarian response. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, UK Department for International Development Kyla Reid Head of Disaster Response and Digital Identity, GSMA 4 | Forewords Forewords | 5 GSMA GSMA HUMANITARIAN CONNECTIVITY CHARTER: ANNUAL REPORT 2016 The impact of disasters and crises around the world affected and responding communities themselves. Creating a Culture of Preparedness: today is not diminishing. 3.5 billion people have been Research suggests that 90% of lives saved following affected by humanitarian emergencies since the year a disaster are saved by local people (IFRC, 2013)3. 2000. In the USA alone, nearly 143 million people live The ability to communicate and access information in areas where there is risk of a potentially damaging is critical to supporting this immediate response. The Story of the earthquake, with 28 million people living in areas Major disasters, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, classed as ‘high risk’. The Philippines, with a population ushered in a new recognition of the unique role of nearly 100 million people, experiences an average of that mobile network operators can play in response 20 typhoons a year, as well as the risk of earthquakes. activities, spurring a greater interest in leveraging Humanitarian Upwards of 65 million people around the world are this technology to support communication amongst currently displaced, a large proportion of whom will affected communities and facilitate the rapid remain so for an average of 17 years, with little if any dissemination of critical humanitarian information. hope of returning home (UNHCR, 2016)1. In 2011, the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Connectivity Charter Japan, followed by the Fukushima nuclear power Yet against this challenging backdrop, the potential for plant meltdown, highlighted again the immense mobile technology to positively impact people’s lives impact that disasters can have, and their destructive has never been greater. Access to mobile technology impact on mobile networks. In times of crisis, mobile networks and the connectivity they is on the rise, with over 4.9 billion unique subscribers provide can be a lifeline for those affected by natural disasters today, a 4.7% increase on last year (GSMAi, 2017)2. MNOs around the