WFP, Vodafone to work on emergency communication

Posted on ZDNet News: Feb 13, 2008 6:36:00 AM

The United Nations World Food Program has joined forces with Vodafone Group to work on a standard telecommunications system for aid agencies around the world to improve logistics and response times to disasters. In natural disasters or attacks such as the September 11 attacks in the United States, communication systems can be damaged, destroyed, or severely restricted due to heavy demand. The two groups believe a system where all agencies are trained in the same way to work together to re-establish communications could improve response times to major emergencies and allow agencies to better reach those affected.

The WFP is the lead United Nations agency on providing communications in emergency situations. The United Nations Foundation and the Vodafone Group Foundation have pledged $4.3 million between them while the WFP has pledged a further $1.8 million to develop a training program open to all humanitarian relief organizations. Over the next three years, 500 information and communication technology workers will be trained to deploy quickly. WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said they would ensure that all the agencies were able to work on the same communication system, and this would also allow smaller, local agencies to be involved quickly.

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