HTC Challenge Process

During the first half of 2008, focus groups, surveys, and personal interviews were conducted among non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives, including field workers. Their purpose was to identify a broad range of critical humanitarian needs/challenges that HTC might address. This information is now being analyzed and needs/challenges are being prioritized according to specific criteria.

The needs/challenges ranked with the highest priority will then be validated by humanitarians in the field. Subsequently, IEEE volunteers and humanitarians will jointly develop detailed challenge definitions and potential solution frameworks.

During 2009, work groups for each of the identified challenges – comprised of technologists and humanitarians from across the globe – will develop possible solutions. An online collaboration platform will be used to facilitate each work group’s activities.  Potential solutions will be presented at a results/solution sharing conference in late 2009. Development plans for specific products will also be started.

The actual products – or solutions – to be implemented in the field will be developed by corporations, philanthropic foundations, and NGOs, as well as other participating organizations. Those solutions requiring product interoperability may require a separate conference. Product Development will likely take place in 2010.

NGOs that work in the field to implement activities will deliver the solutions and products in the field environment. The solutions will be monitored and evaluated for effectiveness, impact, and value. Deployment and Evaluation are expected to begin late 2010-2011.