AI for Humanitarians

This facilitated online course, developed by RedR UK and RedR Australia, helps humanitarian professionals understand and critically engage with artificial intelligence (AI) in their work. It explores the benefits, challenges, and risks of AI in the sector, grounded in humanitarian principles. Rather than focusing on specific tools, the course provides a strong foundation for informed and responsible use of AI.

Description

Designed by RedR UK and RedR Australia, this on-line, facilitated training aims to help humanitarians better understand, use, monitor, and critically reflect on the use of AI in the humanitarian sector, grounded in humanitarian principles and practice. Instead of providing tips and tricks for specific AI Tools, this course provides an introduction to the potential benefits, challenges, and risks posed by AI in the humanitarian sector that learners can use as a foundation on which to build more advanced skills. 

Course Costs

AUD 500

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, you will be able to: 

  • Define key concepts in Artificial Intelligence (AI), including machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, 

  • Identify potential applications of AI in the humanitarian sector, 

  • Explain ethical considerations of using AI in humanitarian response, including bias, privacy concerns, and potential harm using the humanitarian principles as a framework for analysis, 

  • Recognise potential risks of AI in humanitarian work and name potential mitigation strategies, 

  • Critically assess AI tools and use the humanitarian principles to evaluate their suitability for specific humanitarian contexts.

Course Timing

This blended learning programme consists of four highly interactive, facilitated online sessions delivered via Zoom, each lasting 2 hours. Sessions are held on four consecutive Wednesdays from 17:00–19:00 (AEST, UTC+10).

Participants are expected to attend all live sessions in full and complete approximately one hour of independent pre-reading or homework before each module. The total time commitment for the course is approximately 12 hours.

Who is this course for?

Humanitarian practitioners interested in building their foundational understanding of the use of AI in humanitarian response.