What is it?
Digital technologies are a key enabler in delivering effective and timely humanitarian aid.
They allow humanitarian organisations to:
- improve collaboration and communication
- deliver aid more efficiently
- make the emergency response targeted to the needs of the beneficiaries.
People impacted by disasters and crises are increasingly online and expect to receive information, aid and services digitally.
Even in lower-income economies, over 50%, and almost 90% of Internet users are connecting daily, Global Connectivity Report 2025, International Telecoms Union.
Paired with the daily use of the internet is the ownership of mobile phones. While disparities still exist on geographic, income and gender-based categorisations, mobile phone ownership stands well above 80% in the Asia-Pacific and the Americas regions and above 75% in Africa, The Global Findex Database 2025, The World Bank Group.
Why is this important?
The humanitarian sector is increasingly testing and adopting digital technologies. Digital technologies enable donors to mobilise aid in a faster and more effective way, while also empowering beneficiaries to receive it with greater ease.
Faster and more cost-effective
Additionally, digitalised aid is significantly more cost-effective than traditional methods. In the face of a humanitarian reset – with reduced funding and support – leveraging digital technologies to improve and increase the efficiency of aid is paramount.
In parallel with effectiveness improvements, digital technologies help give people in need of humanitarian assistance a voice and provide them with access to information and services.
There is growing evidence regarding the benefits of digitalising aid. However, these efforts must go hand in hand with:
- respecting the humanitarian principles
- providing neutral, impartial, and needs-based aid
- doing no harm
Ethical considerations
However, while there is significant evidence on the benefits of digitalising the humanitarian system, we must equally ensure that when it comes to aid delivery using digital channels, that this is done responsibly and non-discriminatorily. To that end, the responsible collection and sharing of data, respecting the privacy and ownership of the beneficiaries, is a key consideration. Additionally, digital delivery needs to consider the difficulties regarding access and connectivity in some countries.
The Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department works with its partners to address these challenges. The aim is to help safely integrate digital tools into the humanitarian system and unlock the efficiency and effectiveness benefits they promise.
How are we helping?
As one of the world's largest aid donors, the EU’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department helps coordinate and support sector-wide initiatives to develop norms and standards around digitalisation.
As an emergency management organisation, it has supported deploying new technologies to improve the cost-effectiveness of humanitarian interventions and focus aid on where the needs are greatest.
Cash-based assistance
Cash-based assistance has been an entry point for digitalisation in the humanitarian sphere. Cash can now be delivered securely, often based on biometric data. This is done through various systems such as financial service providers and mobile phones, thus ensuring that humanitarian aid directly reaches people in need on time.
Copernicus Emergency Management Service
When disasters strike, the EU’s Emergency Management Service Copernicus provides satellite imagery and open data sources. This helps all actors involved in the response to emergency situations and humanitarian crises.
Consolidating data collection efforts to match needs and promoting interoperability of data processing systems is also paramount.
Ethical challenges
At the same time, the EU recognises that digital technologies give rise to a number of ethical challenges. Ultimately, the use of digital technologies in humanitarian operations should be people-centred and rooted in the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Here are the EU priorities linked to the adoption of digital technologies for humanitarian assistance.
Streamlining the supply chain
Understanding how aid is being moved and using digital platforms to streamline procurement, warehousing and last-mile deliveries can help donors and partners ramp up efficiencies significantly.
Improving data quality and sharing
Supporting interoperability between the systems of partners and local organisations is key to reduce administrative burdens and increasing synergies. Data collection – which serves as an enabling function to the humanitarian community and helps conduct efficient resource allocation exercises – shall also be consolidated, quality-checked and digitalised. This consolidation will – additionally – become essential for the looming integration of AI tools in humanitarian programming.
Support to digital delivery
Supporting and mainstreaming tools that allow donors and partners to deliver aid more efficiently and effectively is of paramount relevance. In this sense, the promotion of new methodologies – such as digital cash transfers – will be a relevant part of our digital strategies.
To maximise the benefits of digitalisation for humanitarian aid, the EU supports digital approaches and, or solutions built into the design and implementation of humanitarian actions.
The Commission’s department of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations leads the way by gathering the necessary technical expertise and liaising with other EU services to build synergies and boost effectiveness.
Last updated: 11/12/2025