Projects
A snapshot of some digital development, tech for impact and relief projects that I have designed, built and driven with the private sector. Please reach out if you would like to learn more about these and other projects.
Machine Learning for Early Warning Systems | Kenya and Ethiopia
Google
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I worked with the United Nations World Food Programme and the East Africa Regional Climate Prediction & Applications Centre, the University of Oxford and Google to design and ship a ground breaking new approach for forecasting extreme events in service of early warnings in resource constrained environments. This project leverages the power of Artificial Intelligence, through integrating Generative Adversarial Networks or GAN models to downscale local weather forecasts on the cloud. This technology will allow teams in East Africa predict their own climate shocks and activate anticipatory actions to protect millions of people, before disaster strikes. Learn more about the project at the publication link.
photo from WFP publication on project website.
Global Refugee and Humanitarian Logistics during Pandemic | Global UBER
My team at the International Rescue Committee pitched, secured and managed a multi million dollar complex logistics operations with Uber that leveraged company's Business Rides Platform to support thousands of humanitarian workers and well as refugees whose lives had been shattered by conflict and disaster navigate the new realities of the COVID-19 Pandemic. My team designed and facilitated the global training and logistics system, dispatching and tracking rides across fragile contexts in more than 15 countries. This project supported with the delivery of emergency and basic hygiene supplies, food, medical services as well as transportation for complex protection cases. Learn more about the project at this link.
photo from Uber website.
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Zero Hunger: Supporting Small Scale Farmers with Technology | Global Salesforce
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Small-scale farmers produce one third of the world’s food and represent over 80% of the world’s farms, however, sadly, many of these farmers themselves are likely to experience hunger. I worked with the Salesforce.org Impact Labs to help convene a cohorts of experts to investigate the challenges facing female farmers and brainstorm solutions. By bringing together the expertise of leaders from across sectors with the power of Salesforce technology and pro bono talent, this Impact Lab aimed to generate shareable insights and/or solutions that support the work of female, small-scale farmers in enabling them to make proactive, informed decisions that increase their yield and profits.
In this document, you will find the cohort’s proposed solution, AgriText, along with key considerations for further design, build, and implementation
photo from Salesforce.org Impact Labs Publication .
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I worked in partnership with Twilio's social impact team and Signpost.ngo to leverage the power of mass messaging and chatbots to deliver vital information at scale to internally displaced persons escaping gang violence in the northern triangle and refugees in Greece and Italy. Our team leverages WhatsApp hotlines and a cloud contact center to offer two-way communications to those in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this service offered health information and adapted to the information needs and habits of the community.
photo from Signpost.ngo website.
Digital economies and initiatives have opened up the possibilities for income generation among migrants and displaced persons. I worked on designing and project managing an innovative digital livelihoods and training pilot to support the fair and equitable inclusion of refugees in Nairobi onto the Airbnb experiences platform. The project supported both the development of business skills for small and medium enterprise owners as well as the building of necessary digital skills to help aspiring entrepreneurs compete in new economic spaces.
photo from Airbnb mag article on project.
Successful resettlement and integration of newcomers require a networked approach to humanitarian aid. In Oakland, I designed and implemented the Bay Area's largest refugee resettlement program, centered around community based sponsorship models. Building off of my model, I partnered with Amnesty International on the "longer table" a project that aimed to scale organized refugee sponsorship across the United States.
photo from Amnesty International website on project.