CASE STUDY
About Mercy Corps
Headquartered in Portland , Oregon , Mercy Corps is a global team of nearly 6,000 humanitarians working to create a world where everyone can prosper .
In more than 40 countries affected by crisis , disaster , poverty and climate change we work alongside communities , local governments , forward-thinking corporations and social entrepreneurs to meet urgent needs and develop long-term solutions to make lasting change possible .
• 280k individuals reached with digital cash and voucher assistance
• 32 partners helping Mercy Corps expand its reach
• 68 Wi-Fi hotspots installed since 2015
The Mercy Corps technology team works with field teams and external partners to unlock new possibilities and reach more people – maximising the digital value chain for existing and emerging technologies .
Mercy Corps has a total operating budget of over $ 623m and in 2023 reached over 30 million people .
Mercy Corps sees technology is a powerful way to increase scale , efficiency and program quality into its work our work . With distributions of cash or goods , digital identities can help reduce fraud and ensure that more resources go to the people who need them most . Similarly , early warning messages sent before climate-related weather events enable remittance senders to quickly transfer money to loved ones , allowing them to prepare for the impact of the crisis .
More than 2.5m refugees have been reached through the Mercy Corps digital program .
Other stats include :
The tech team also works to strengthen data-driven decisionmaking and governance , using data to inform programmatic strategies , measure impact , and improve accountability through data analysis .
Alicia Morrison , Director of Data Science , Mercy Corps , said : “ We are a global leader in humanitarian aid , operating in over 40 countries impacted by crises , disasters , poverty , and climate change . Our approach goes beyond responding to immediate needs or providing short-term relief . While we do address the immediate needs of local communities in crisis , we also work alongside them to build long-term resilience and thrive into the future . For example , we ’ ve helped farmers cultivate climateresilient crops that will benefit their communities both now and in the years ahead . Looking to the future is vital to creating sustained , sustainable growth in areas that need it the most .” innovative , evidence-based methods . Cloudera ’ s commitment to supporting our team with the power of AI will enable us to respond to crises faster and make critical , data-driven decisions when it matters most ,” said Alicia Morrison , Director of Data Science , Mercy Corps .
“ For example , during agricultural crises that threaten millions of lives , providing rapid support to affected communities is crucial . By developing the AI-powered Methods Matcher tool with Cloudera , our humanitarian teams are leveraging timely , accurate data to make faster , smarter and more precise decisions .”
Manasi Vartak , Chief AI Architect , Cloudera , said : “ The power of AI is limitless and our work with Mercy Corps and Tech To The Rescue ’ s AI for Changemakers program is just the tip of the iceberg for what ’ s possible when we leverage AI to solve challenges .
“ It ’ s about more than just using technology for social impact – it ’ s about helping organizations build the skills and capacity to leverage AI for real-world impact and create lasting change .” p
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