Do no harm: A taxonomy of the challenges of humanitarian experimentation

TY - JOUR

T1 - Do no harm

T2 - A taxonomy of the challenges of humanitarian experimentation

AU - Sandvik, Kristin B.

AU - Jacobsen, Katja Lindskov

AU - McDonald , Sean Martin

PY - 2017/10/25

Y1 - 2017/10/25

N2 - This article aims to acknowledge and articulate the notion of “humanitarianexperimentation”. Whether through innovation or uncertain contexts, managingrisk is a core component of the humanitarian initiative – but all risk is not createdequal. There is a stark ethical and practical difference between managing risk andintroducing it, which is mitigated in other fields through experimentation andregulation. This article identifies and historically contextualizes the concept ofhumanitarian experimentation, which is increasingly prescient, as a range ofhumanitarian subfields embark on projects of digitization and privatization. Thistrend is illustrated here through three contemporary examples of humanitarianinnovations (biometrics, data modelling, cargo drones), with references to criticalquestions about adherence to the humanitarian “do no harm” imperative. Thisarticle outlines a broad taxonomy of harms, intended to serve as the starting pointfor a more comprehensive conversation about humanitarian action and the ethicsof experimentation.

AB - This article aims to acknowledge and articulate the notion of “humanitarianexperimentation”. Whether through innovation or uncertain contexts, managingrisk is a core component of the humanitarian initiative – but all risk is not createdequal. There is a stark ethical and practical difference between managing risk andintroducing it, which is mitigated in other fields through experimentation andregulation. This article identifies and historically contextualizes the concept ofhumanitarian experimentation, which is increasingly prescient, as a range ofhumanitarian subfields embark on projects of digitization and privatization. Thistrend is illustrated here through three contemporary examples of humanitarianinnovations (biometrics, data modelling, cargo drones), with references to criticalquestions about adherence to the humanitarian “do no harm” imperative. Thisarticle outlines a broad taxonomy of harms, intended to serve as the starting pointfor a more comprehensive conversation about humanitarian action and the ethicsof experimentation.

UR - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-review-of-the-red-cross/article/do-no-harm-a-taxonomy-of-the-challenges-of-humanitarian-experimentation/21D82019D70985DEE475DBBBDE60D192

U2 - 10.1017/s181638311700042x

DO - 10.1017/s181638311700042x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1816-3831

JO - International Review of the Red Cross

JF - International Review of the Red Cross

ER -