Caitlin Howarth
Signal Program @ Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
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Caitlin Howarth leads the Signal Program on Human Security and Technology at Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI), where she specializes in atrocity warning and rapid response. Howarth was formerly Reports Manager for the Satellite Sentinel Project at HHI from 2011-2012. She has served as Director of Leadership Development at the Truman National Security Project, Deputy Director of the Telecommunications Equality Project at the Roosevelt Institute, and COO and National Policy Director at the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network. Howarth’s consultant work includes the design of the award-winning MediCapt mobile forensic evidence collection app, created for Physicians for Human Rights . A Washington, DC native, she holds a BA in Political and Social Thought from the University of Virginia and an MPP in International & Global Affairs from the Harvard Kennedy School.
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Connectivity During Covid-19: Digital Connection in Social Isolation
Access to information during crises is a human right – and yet connectivity is not always prioritized in the humanitarian response.
This session explores how people affected by crises, when able to connect to the internet, not only access vital information but also experience improved wellbeing. From refugee campsite selection and bandwidth to community integration and affordability, our recent research investigates the many dimensions that shape Internet connectivity in crises, and the impact of connectivity on wellbeing. Our research has demonstrated, in a representative sample of a diverse camp population in Italy, that ownership of a mobile phone increased Internet connectivity via WiFi.
Moreover, we observed trends between daily access to WiFi in the past week and increased social support and perceived self-efficacy, as well as lower odds of depressive symptoms. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we will present lessons learned from Mercy Corps teams on the ground, from rapid information response through WiFi to business and education continuity. Through the session, participants will learn the key elements of the Humanitarian WiFi Guide, now in its first edition, as well as best practices for preserving connectivity in humanitarian crises during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Caitlin Howarth
Signal Program @ Harvard Humanitarian Initiative
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