Shift Happens: Digital Transformation in the Humanitarian Sector

Abstract

To provide insight into factors that play a role for DT in the humanitarian sector, a combination of literature and expert interviews was used to identify relevant criteria for the humanitarian sector. In accordance with prevailing literature, these factors have been categorised in people, process and technology factors. People factors include leadership, human resources, culture, organisational structure. Process factors were: alignment operations & IT, long term commitment Management, long term commitment network, long term commitment donor, crisis response, Legal issues. Finally, technology factors included both data and digital. The identified critical DT factors were translated into an assessment framework making use of the CMMi Maturity Model approach. For each factor and maturity level combination, there is an explanation of what a humanitarian organisation has to comply with, before advancing to the next level. This ensures that national societies can generate an overview where they currently are and what steps to take to advance. To adequately deal with the barriers and increase practical applicability of the framework, separate barrier-overcoming-strategies have been formulated.