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Tech and Diaspora: Global Innovations in Humanitarian Action - AidEx 2025

As the global funding landscape shrinks, the humanitarian sector must evolve or risk falling behind. Diaspora-led initiatives — often mobilizing resources that rival or surpass formal aid flows — are pioneering innovative financing models that scale what local communities are already doing. By combining trusted community ties with cutting-edge technologies, these efforts are reshaping how humanitarian response is financed and delivered. This session will explore how diaspora and tech actors worldwide can be leveraged to strengthen community-driven responses and drive systemic change.

Main objectives:

  1. Highlight blockchain-based payments and other tech for diaspora-led humanitarian action. 
  1. Show how blockchain, digital payments, and crowdfunding improve transparency, accountability, and reach.

  1. Explore opportunities for collaboration between diaspora actors, humanitarian agencies, and private sector innovators to scale impactful solutions. 

Speaker Details

  • Burcu Mavis, Blockchain Academy and Accelerator Lead, UNDP AltFinLab (Moderator & Facilitator)
  • Nasrat Khalid, Founder & CEO, Aseel Technology Corporation
  • Nigel Pont, Senior Humanitarian Advisor, HesabPay
  • Jean-Marc Seigneur, Director, Advanced Studies on Blockchain, DLT and dApps Development, University of Geneva
  • Carmen Hett, Corporate Treasurer, UNHCR

This session is organized by UNDP AltFinLab and DEMAC – Diaspora Emergency Action & Coordination, part of the Danish Refugee Council.

Event Date
-
Location
Geneva, Switzerland
Registration Deadline
-
Event Type
Talks/Discussions
Author
UNDP AltFinLab & DEMAC
Organization
UNDP AltFinLab & DEMAC

DEMAC is a global initiative aiming at enhancing mutual knowledge and coordination, communication and coherence between diaspora humanitarian actors and the institutional humanitarian system.

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