UK charity Save the Children has commissioned research – funded by the Vodafone Foundation – to understand the options for future collaboration with mobile operators.

Mobile World Live covered the research earlier this week. For the full report, see here, and read below.

The research by development specialist Jigsaw Consult has found that the use of mobile in emergency response is hampered by a lack of collaboration between humanitarian agencies, mobile network operators and governments. The research discusses the modelling of new collaboration between NGOs and mobile operators.

Jigsaw Consult says there is “a widespread lack of awareness regarding how mobile phones can be used in emergency response,” mainly because of a lack of training for humanitarian staff, a lack of preparedness and the limited opportunity to innovate in the high-pressure environment of an unfolding emergency.

It mentions the development of new technology to provide rapid help when there is infrastructure damage. Vodafone has a product called Instant Network, a portable GSM network designed for use in emergency situations where regular mobile phone networks have been damaged. The product packs in to three suitcases, weighs less than 100kg and can be taken on commercial flights. Once on location a network can be established in 40 minutes.

However, the consultancy says the ‘humanitarian sector is lagging considerably behind the mobile innovation curve’, adding that the use of mobile in emergency response is hampered by lack of collaboration and knowledge sharing between humanitarian agencies, mobile operators and governments.

In order for the humanitarian sector to realise the transformative potential of mobile phones more fully, Jigsaw Consult recommends that:

1.       NGOs: Introduce and prioritise mobile-based services throughout emergency preparedness, contingency planning and response, such as rapid needs assessments, large scale two-way communication and ‘feedback and complaints’ systems.

2.       Mobile operators: Prioritise increasing network coverage for the most remote areas in emergencies and develop a training programme, including simulation exercises that can help humanitarian agencies learn about the range of different uses of mobile technology and how these can be applied in emergencies.

3.       Governments: Recognise the need to incorporate emergency support for communications as an essential component of response efforts: the restoration of mobile networks should be regarded as a life-saving humanitarian priority. Work to improve national regulatory environments to facilitate effective emergency mobile-based interventions and allow data sharing for humanitarian purposes.

The consultancy also recommends that Save the Children collaborates with mobile operators to develop an effective training programme and that field testing is carried out in a selected country.