C O R P O R A T I O N SHELLY CULBERTSON, JAMES DIMAROGONAS, KATHERINE COSTELLO, SERAFINA LANNA Crossing the Digital Divide Applying Technology to the Global Refugee Crisis For more information on this publication, visit www.rand.org/t/RR4322 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available for this publication. ISBN: 978-1-9774-0395-7 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © Copyright 2019 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Cover: Kay Nietfeld / picture-alliance / dpa / AP Images. Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Preface Approximately 71 million people globally are displaced by conflict and persecution, and this crisis has placed unprecedented strain on displaced individuals, host countries, and the international humanitarian system. Technology can mitigate some of these challenges. This report focuses on how technology is managed, used, perceived, and developed in refugee settings and on the ethical considerations for its use. This report should be of particular interest to foundations contributing financially to humanitar- ian situations, as well as to government donors, policymakers, practitioners, nongov- ernmental organizations, and private-sector companies engaged in helping refugees globally. This research was sponsored by Schmidt Futures, which seeks to advance soci- ety through technology, inspire breakthroughs in scientific knowledge, and promote shared prosperity. Community Health and Environmental Policy Program RAND Social and Economic Well-Being is a division of the RAND Corporation that seeks to actively improve the health and social and economic well-being of populations and communities throughout the world. This research was conducted in the Commu- nity Health and Environmental Policy program within RAND Social and Economic Well-Being. The program focuses on such topics as infrastructure, science and tech- nology, community design, community health promotion, migration and population dynamics, transportation, energy, and climate and the environment, as well as other policy concerns that are influenced by the natural and built environment, technology, and community organizations and institutions that affect well-being. For more infor- mation, email [email protected]. iii Contents Preface ................................................................................................. iii Figures and Tables ...................................................................................vii Summary .............................................................................................. ix Acknowledgments .................................................................................. xix Abbreviations ........................................................................................ xxi CHAPTER ONE Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 Study Approach ........................................................................................ 3 Limitations .............................................................................................. 5 Roadmap for This Report ............................................................................. 6 CHAPTER TWO Roles and Responsibilities of Entities Involved in Using or Contributing to Technology in Refugee Settings .............................................................. 7 Refugees ................................................................................................. 7 Aid Agencies ............................................................................................ 8 Host Countries ........................................................................................11 Donors ..................................................................................................12 Technology Companies ..............................................................................13 Consortia ...............................................................................................15 Universities and Research Organizations ..........................................................17 Conclusion .............................................................................................17 CHAPTER THREE Uses of Technology in Refugee Settings .........................................................19 Internet Connectivity and Access ...................................................................19 Communication with Family and Friends ........................................................ 20 Information for Journeys ............................................................................21 Establishment in New Locations ....................................................................21 Language .............................................................................................. 23 v vi Crossing the Digital Divide: Applying Technology to the Global Refugee Crisis Memory and Record Preservation.................................................................. 24 Employment .......................................................................................... 24 Education ..............................................................................................25 Aid Agency Management and Coordination ..................................................... 27 Distribution of Assistance ........................................................................... 27 Data Collection and Analysis ........................................................................29 Registration ............................................................................................31 Identity Management and Digital Identity Provision ............................................32 Conclusion .............................................................................................33 CHAPTER FOUR Refugees’ Perspectives on Technology ...........................................................35 Access to Technology .................................................................................35 Uses of Technology ...................................................................................39 Concerns About Technology ........................................................................47 Conclusion .............................................................................................49 CHAPTER FIVE Business Models for Developing and Deploying Technology in Refugee Settings......51 What Is a Business Model? ...........................................................................52 Applying the Business Model Components to Developing and Deploying Technology in Refugee Settings ..............................................................................52 Barriers to (and Facilitators of) Developing and Deploying Technology in Refugee Settings ............................................................................................58 Tools for Applying System-Level Thinking to Support the Development and Deployment of Technology in Refugee Contexts ............................................62 Conclusion .............................................................................................65 CHAPTER SIX Ethical, Security, and Privacy Issues Related to the Use of Technology in Refugee Settings ................................................................................67 Ethical Frameworks and Safeguards to Address Risks ...........................................67 Data Responsibility ...................................................................................70 Bias ......................................................................................................74 Conflicts of Interest ...................................................................................76 Conclusion ............................................................................................ 77 CHAPTER SEVEN Conclusions and Recommendations .............................................................79 Looking Ahead ....................................................................................... 87 References .............................................................................................89 Figures and Tables Figures S.1. Five Drivers for Evaluating the Application of a Technology Solution in Refugee Settings ......................................................................xv 5.1. Key Processes for Developing and Deploying