Artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, drones and digital cash transfer systems are transforming humanitarian operations across East Africa, enabling aid agencies to respond more quickly and efficiently to disasters amid rising humanitarian needs and shrinking funding.
A new 2025 East Africa Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Report by World Vision says humanitarian organisations are increasingly embracing technology to improve early warning systems, assess damage, monitor displacement and deliver assistance to vulnerable communities across the region.
The report comes as East Africa grapples with overlapping crises, including conflict, climate change, disease outbreaks and mass displacement. Humanitarian agencies are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources following what the report describes as the sharpest decline in international humanitarian funding on record.
According to the report, artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics are now being used to forecast disasters, analyse climate risks and identify communities most in need of assistance before emergencies escalate. Satellite imagery has also become an essential tool for assessing damage caused by floods, droughts and conflict, while tracking population movements in inaccessible areas.
Humanitarian organisations are also deploying drones to conduct aerial assessments, map disaster-affected areas and support the delivery of essential supplies to remote communities where damaged infrastructure or insecurity makes road access difficult. The technology has significantly improved the speed and accuracy of emergency assessments while reducing risks for frontline aid workers.
Digital technology is also changing the way humanitarian assistance reaches affected families. The report says digital cash transfers and electronic voucher systems are improving the efficiency, transparency and flexibility of cash-based assistance, allowing households to purchase food and other basic necessities according to their needs rather than relying solely on in-kind aid.
Mobile data collection platforms, including Kobo Toolbox and Open Data Kit (ODK), are now widely used to conduct rapid needs assessments, monitor humanitarian programmes and gather feedback directly from communities. These digital tools enable aid agencies to make faster, evidence-based decisions during emergencies.
In areas affected by armed conflict or insecurity, organisations have increasingly adopted remote management systems, including video reporting and third-party monitoring, to maintain oversight of humanitarian programmes while protecting staff from unnecessary risks.
The report notes that the adoption of technology reflects a broader shift in humanitarian operations as agencies seek innovative ways to maximise impact despite declining financial resources. Across East Africa, humanitarian needs continue to grow because of prolonged conflicts, climate shocks and disease outbreaks, while aid budgets continue to contract.
World Vision says technology alone cannot solve the region’s humanitarian challenges but argues that combining artificial intelligence, digital innovation and community-based disaster preparedness can make emergency responses faster, more targeted and more accountable.
The organisation is urging governments, donors and humanitarian partners to continue investing in digital innovation, early warning systems and anticipatory action to strengthen resilience and ensure vulnerable communities receive timely assistance before disasters spiral into full-scale humanitarian crises.
