Technology for Peacebuilding

Authors

  • Helena Puig Larrauri
  • Anne Kahl

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/sta.cv

Abstract

New technologies are changing how and when we learn about events and choose to respond to them. Mobile phones and the internet have altered how we engage with the world. With technology usage expanding rapidly in the developing world, new avenues of participation, engagement, and accountability are emerging. Globally, more people now have the opportunity to actively make use of these tools to participate in processes that impact their societies. This opportunity for participation is also an opportunity for engaging in new ways with peacebuilding processes. As the field of technology for peacebuilding grows, most attention has been paid to the potential of new technologies for bridging the gap between warning and response. Whilst the focus on the use of technology for early warning and response is important, there is more to this growing field. The empowerment of people to participate in localized conflict management efforts is one of the most significant innovations and opportunities created by new technologies. Technology can contribute to peacebuilding processes by offering tools that foster collaboration, transform attitudes, and give a stronger voice to communities. This article aims to give practitioners two related frameworks to understand how new technologies can enhance peacebuilding. The first section looks at the functions that technology can have in a peacebuilding program as a tool for data processing, communication, engagement, and gaming. We then examine the program areas that new technologies can best contribute to, covering early warning/early response systems, programs that allow citizens to voice their opinions and experiences, collaboration efforts, and programs aimed at transforming attitudes.

Author Biographies

Helena Puig Larrauri

Helena Puig Larrauri is a peacebuilding practitioner, focusing on the use of technology to promote peace and prevent conflict. She is currently a freelance consultant, working on projects with non-governmental and United Nations agencies in conflict and post-conflict environments including Sudan, Libya, Cyprus, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan and Iraq. Prior to 2007, Helena worked as a project manager for the Mayor of London and as a risk manager for Standard Chartered Bank.

Helena is also on the Board of Advisors of the Standby Task Force, an online volunteer technical community for crisis response that she co-founded in 2010. She holds a Master in Public Affairs (Economics) from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School and a Bachelor’s degree from Oxford University (where she also served as Student Unionpresident for one year). She blogs at http://letthemtalk.org

Anne Kahl

Anne Kahl is Conflict Prevention Specialist at the UN’s Development agency (UNDP).  She spends a good portion of her time figuring out how to use technology to help prevent violent conflict and support people’s participation in governance and transition processes. Prior to joining UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery in 2010, Anne was working at the UNDP Country Office in Lebanon where she initiated and developed UNDP’s first online donation initiative aiming at engaging the Lebanese diaspora in support of local development projects in Lebanon in addition to support UN inter-agency coordination in the country. Anne has previously been Middle East Director for the Danish NGO GAM3, working on conflict prevention through sports, and has been working with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Department for the Middle East and North Africa. Anne has a MA in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen and has professional training on conflict analysis, peace building, international humanitarian law and humanitarian assistance.

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Published

2013-11-22

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2013)

Section

Research Article

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2013 The Author(s)

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