Leveraging technology on the frontlines of emergency: How communities of developers are taking action

In a conversation between Camaley Jennings of GitHub and leaders from Watch Duty and USA for UNHCR, the discussion highlights how technology and community engagement are pivotal in addressing global crises. John Mills, co-founder of Watch Duty, explains how the organization provides timely wildfire alerts through a community-driven platform that sells data to utilities and emergency services to remain free for residents. Seema Iyer of The Hive at USA for UNHCR describes using data science and open-source technology to assist in managing refugee camps, emphasizing the importance of sharing innovations to enhance humanitarian efforts. Both leaders acknowledge the challenges and benefits of open-source models in sustaining their operations, and they stress the critical role of community, particularly civic technologists, in driving change and supporting their missions. These stories aim to inspire the global developer community to leverage their skills for social good, illustrating the significant impact that technology and collaboration can have in solving real-world problems.