30 Enabling SSI in humanitarian contexts

 

Nathan Cooper and Amos Doornbos

    The name itself—”self-sovereign identity”—makes it clear that individuals are at the heart of SSI. This suggests that SSI should in theory be a powerful new tool for empowering individuals in humanitarian contexts. While that is indeed the promise, it is not as easy as it might look. To explain the reality of both the potential and challenge, this chapter was contributed by two lifelong experts in leveraging technology in humanitarian contexts: Nathan Cooper, Senior Advisor for innovation in disaster preparedness at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Amos Doornbos, disaster management strategy and systems director for World Vision International.

    30.1 Introduction

    Humanitarian crises are becoming more frequent, more complex, and affect more people. Trends like rapid urbanization and climate change are expected to increase the frequency and severity of disasters and heighten people’s vulnerability to crises.[1] Funding to respond to humanitarian needs is also growing, but at a much slower pace than the growth in needs.[2]

    30.2 Why is humanitarian SSI important?

    30.3 Individual and personal benefits

    30.4 Organizational benefits

    30.5 Challenges to enabling humanitarian SSI

    30.6 Technical and operational requirements of SSI for humanitarian contexts

    30.7 The special role of consent and responsible data practices

    30.8 Another important consideration: business models and funding lifecycles

    30.9 Conclusion

    References