Emerging Tech Archives - The Engine Room

Rethinking AI tools for climate action through frugal and community-centered design

Denisse Albornoz

Olivia Johnson

Aug 13, 2026

This is the first in a three-part series sharing findings from our AI for Climate Action project, which is mapping community-centered AI tools for climate action across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. This series explores three themes emerging from our research. In this first post, we look at how organizations make decisions when considering AI for climate action. The next posts will explore data practices and the role of AI in supporting social movements.

Chatbots in humanitarian contexts

Olivia Johnson

Barbara Paes

Laura Guzman

Aug 2, 2023

Research on the use of chatbots in humanitarian and civil society organisations.

Five considerations for humanitarians before designing & adopting chatbots

Olivia Johnson

Jun 5, 2023

Last year we kicked off a project examining chatbot use in humanitarian work, with support from the IFRC and UNHCR. In this post, we share some of the key learnings for humanitarian organisations that emerged from our research.

In the humanitarian sector’s search for efficiency, are we falling short?

Laura Guzman

May 1, 2023

Over the decade that The Engine Room has been providing support and conducting research, we’ve explored this question of how, in practice, different digital technologies can augment the work of humanitarian organisations.

Innovation is not for free

Julia Keseru

Mar 16, 2023

How can we continue experimenting with technology’s liberatory potential, without sacrificing too much?

Predictive analytics for children: New research by The Engine Room and UNICEF

Cathy Richards

Nov 19, 2021

In partnership with UNICEF, we looked into predictive analytics specifically in relation to children. Read our report.

10 questions we’re asking about ethics & open source research

Laura Guzman

Sophie Dyer

Nov 10, 2020

Questions and answers from a session held at Rightscon: ‘Using data ethically in humanitarian, human rights, and open source investigations’.

How we approached consent and security in our digital ID research

Paola Verhaert

Apr 1, 2020

At the outset of our research project on digital ID, we aimed to design consent and data management processes that uphold the dignity and rights of the communities in our study

From hype to nuance: Civil society and technology

Julia Keseru

Jan 30, 2020

What we’re looking forward to exploring in 2020 when it comes to civil society and technology.

Tech Bias, People Bias

Zara Rahman

Dec 11, 2019

Though we’re increasingly focusing on the biases within technology, we shouldn’t turn away from the human decisions that put them there.

Our new review on the use of biometric technologies in the humanitarian sector

Paola Verhaert

Mar 27, 2018

Our new report outlines the ways biometrics are being used in the humanitarian sector, and reviews the context in which Oxfam is deciding whether (and how) to integrate biometrics into its programmes.

Using what we know: How to ensure tech projects meet the brief

Tom Walker

Oct 24, 2017

This post was originally published on the Making All Voices Count blog.

How to use satellite imagery for Human Rights Monitoring: our new library entry

Paola Verhaert

Aug 16, 2017

We worked with Robin Pierro to create an introduction on using satellite imagery for human rights monitoring.

Announcing our new guide to investigative web research

Tom Walker

Jun 8, 2017

We’ve just finished working with a partner to create an introductory guide to investigative web research. As part of our aim to encourage shared, open documentation about the use of technology in social change, we’re publishing it so that other people can use it too. The guide is designed for researchers, activists and journalists who […]

Announcing our new research on humanitarian futures for messaging apps

Tom Walker

Jan 31, 2017

Messaging apps are the fastest growing form of digital communication ever, with smartphone ownership rising rapidly around the world and messaging becoming many people’s favourite way to communicate. But what does this mean for humanitarian organisations? Our new research report, produced in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the messaging […]