Reflab - helping humanitarian action through web innovation

New blog post: Mobile webapp for Ushahidi

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-12-20T08:20:00Z

"Just before ICCM 2011 I though we could apply what we had learned so far in data collection and mobile web applications to a project that we really appreciate a lot and which, hopefully, would immediately benefit: Ushahidi."

Check out Francesco's post: Mobile webapp for Ushahidi

Roll-out of the MSF International General Assembly Website

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-12-13T10:10:00Z

The first ever IGA coincides with the 40th anniversary of MSF and will take place in Paris at the end of this week (16-18 December 2011).

To support the event MSF has deployed a number of online tools, in particular a dedicated website:
IGA is a minisite (access reserved to MSF association members), that provides all member with background documentation, profiles of candidates and representatives, and the possibility to discuss with both, openly. The site provides also all practical information for the event, that will be streamed live.

See more on: MSF International General Assembly Website

Christmas Holidays

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-12-06T08:10:00Z

Our offices will be closed from December, the 23th to January the 8th.
Maintenance and support are guaranteed at the same condiitons during the holidays.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and an Happy New Year!

the Reflab team.

New live project: UNRWA Italia Commettee

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-11-29T09:30:00Z

UNRWA is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. UNRWA provides assistance, protection and advocacy for some 5 million registered Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, pending a solution to their plight.

We have partnered with the newborn UNRWA Italia Commettee to kickstart the online activities of the association: a first version of the website, a mailing list and initial social media strategy.

See the project case: UNRWA Italia

Making good use of a weekend: Ushahidi Webapp

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-11-23T08:30:00Z

Reflab team, in parallel to the Rhok event on December 3-4, in the spirit of the hackathon but physically from home, will spend the weekend to add to Ushahidi the possibility to have offline-web reporting. We cannot make it to Trento this time, but we will make very good use of this weekend!

Ushahidi is a non-profit tech company that specializes in developing free and open source software for information collection, visualization and interactive mapping. They build tools for democratizing information, increasing transparency and lowering the barriers for individuals to share their stories. They are a disruptive organization that is willing to take risks in the pursuit of changing the traditional way that information flows.

We love Ushahidi and share their goals, so why not using our experience on online-offline web applications to contribute a small component, that might have an interesting immediate impact?

The webapp would enable anyone with a smartphone, tablet or laptop, to prepare and submit Ushahidi structured reports both online and offline, without the need to install an Ushahidi mobile application or custom application.

A prototype of the app. has already been developed and the goal is to finish a first stable version during the weekend.

In the tradition of every Free Software sprint or hackathon any developer, designer, project manager or communication/documentation expert is welcome!
The sprint will take place in Reflab premises in Cascina (Pisa), Via della Pace, 6 from Saturday 9.00 a.m. to Sunday 5.00 p.m. to participate please contact us.

A very promising start for Crisis Camp Italia

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-11-22T10:40:00Z

The term crisis can have many meanings: the humanitarian crisis, war, civil or political rights denied, or also natural or anthropogenic hazards (earthquakes, fires, floods), then the whole part in a European country is guarded by the civil protection. This is the aspect that most concerns us in Italy. In any emergency there is a problem of information management, not only as the information produced by the press and social media, but also how the information can be shared between operators (civil protection... ). Operators, therefore, have difficulties in managing this collaborative aspect, but it is essential for their action. Here, the network enters the scene: today the web is primarily a platform for sharing and collaboration and crowdsourcing the buzzword also in crisis management.

The Crisis Camp Italy follows the similar experiences of London and Paris. There, important issues and interesting topics where presented and discussed, together: operators involved in civil protection, citizens, journalists and the scientific community.

It was a very promising start, showing that there is an high level of interest in Italy for such issues and such network! All participants agreed to continue the conversation and prepare for the next camp, likely to be in 6-8 month.

And while the conversation continues, the very first concrete outcomes are already there:

the first proposal is to equip elicopeters with cameras (read: ortofoto ad ogni elisoccorso?),
the second proposal is to build a permanent observatory of the innovative projects developed in Italy.
the third proposal is to workout a guideline on social media for emergencies management to be given to F3 (mass-media and information) function of the Protezione Civile.

Instead of "just talking", the newborn community is focusing on having real impact and showing results. We hope to be able very soon to make it happen!

Crisis Camp Italia is part of the worldwide Crisis Commons initiative, and has been organized by Elena Rapisardi, Marco Boscolo and Francesco Ciriaci, with the support of FormicaBlu, TagBoLab, UrbanCenterBologna and Reflab.

See the press review of the event: http://crisiscampitaly.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/piccola-rassegna-stampa/

Official CrisisCamp website: http://crisiscampitaly.wordpress.com/

Convegno Internazionale "Teoria e pratica dell'azione umanitaria", November 2011

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-11-22T10:35:00Z

"The Congress will be an opportunity to exchange informations, experiences and ideas about humanitarian action, which assemble experts, doctors, researchers in the world of non-governmental organizations, medicine, politics and media, to reflect and address the question. During the sessions and workshops planned, the participants will be able to compare the following topics: surgery in emergency situations, the role of military operations, policy coordination, the future of humanitarian action."

Reflab has been working for MSF International since 2009, delivering the new International Intranet (Tukul) as well as collaboration and information tools aimed to the fields users and supporting their operations. It has been always challenging and very rewarding: we have learned a lot and built on the successes, one small step at the time. We are very proud to work for MSF.

This event is a good moment for us to have a insight on the broad "humanitarian action", the very activity that we ultimately serve.

See more on "Teoria e pratica dell'azione umanitaria" event: http://www.medicisenzafrontiere.it/eventi/scheda_evento.asp?id=2775

ICCM 2011: International conference of crisis mappers, November 2011 Geneva, Switzerland

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-11-02T11:10:00Z

"The purpose of ICCM 2011 Geneva is to bring together the most engaged practitioners, scholars, software developers and policymakers at the cutting edge of crisis mapping to address and assess the role of crisis mapping and humanitarian technology in crisis response. Following the myriad of responses to the Haiti 2010 earthquake, the crisis mapper community is fanning out into new domains. A number of reports highlight a great deal of excitement over the potential of Information and Communications Technologies, new and social media as well as crowd-sourcing to strengthen planning and delivery of aid."

Francesco Ciriaci, Reflab Managing Director,will participate to this important event and contribute with his experience in the area of technology in humanitarian emergencies, particularly online-offline web and mobile applications and tools.

See more on ICCM 2011 Geneva: http://crisismappers.net/

CrisisCamp Italy, Bologna, November 2011

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-10-11T09:30:00Z

CrisisCamp is a network, an informal collective coming together around issues of socio-technical tools for crisis management and emergency Internet. It is also a space for meeting and dialogue for the actors with this area of interest and joint action.

After our partecipation at CrisisCamp Paris 2011, Francesco and Reflab have co-operated with the organization of CrisisCamp Italy.

"CrisisCamp Italy fa parte del network internazionale di CrisisCommons. L’obiettivo è di creare un network tra persone con competenze e interessi eterogenei, come singoli o membri di ong, organizzazioni di volontariato, amministratori pubblici, operatori, rappresentanti degli organi di stampa che hanno in comune un’impegno nella gestione di crisi, emergenze naturali o causate dall’uomo, attraverso l’utilizzo delle nuove tecnologie d’informazione e comunicazione libere e gratuite."

See more on CrisisCamp Italy 2011http://crisiscampitaly.wordpress.com/info/

We are hiring!

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-09-14T07:55:00Z

Stiamo ricercando un sistemista Linux ed uno sviluppatore web (Python) con esperienza di almeno 3 anni nel settore, da inserire nel nostro team di sviluppo per la realizzazione di progetti innovativi rivolti al settore umanitario e internazionale.

See more

Social Good Summit 2011 , New York City

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-09-07T14:15:00Z

We could not make it last year, but this year we will not miss it: our beloved Mashable crew is, for the second time, organizing with the UN Foundation a four full days, 1000 participants incredible event bringing together awsome people to "unlock the potential of new media and technology to make the world a better place". Francesco, will be there, bringing with him all his crazy ideas, experiences and passion!

"Mashable, 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation present the second annual Social Good Summit. Held at the heart of UN week, the Summit is where big ideas meet new media to create innovative solutions.

The Social Good Summit unites a dynamic community of global leaders to discuss a big idea: the power of innovative thinking and technology to solve our greatest challenges.

The most innovative technologists, influential minds and passionate activists will come together this September with one shared goal: to unlock the potential of new media and technology to make the world a better place."

See more Social Good Summit 2011: http://mashable.com/sgs/

Share Fair, Roma, September 2011

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-08-12T04:45:00Z

"The Second Global AgriKnowledge Share Fair will be an exciting and “out-of-the-box” event, offering participants creative and innovative learning and sharing opportunities, and equipping them with tools to better influence future rural development activities.
This three-day event will provide a forum to learn and share knowledge, experience and innovations on emerging trends relating to agriculture, food security, price volatility, climate change, changing demographics and other rural development related issues"

Francesco will participate to the this important event on Knowledge Management and Knowledge Sharing for development.

See more on Shere Fair event: http://www.sharefair.net

OFE Summit - Tackling the Big Issues through Open Technology

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-08-08T09:40:00Z

OpenForum Europe (OFE) is a not-for-profit industry organization promoting the use of open standards in ICT as a means of achieving full openness and interoperability of computer systems throughout Europe. It promotes open source software, as well as openness more generally as part of a vision to facilitate open, competitive choice for IT users.

We fully shares OFE goals and objectives, in particular related to web standards and open source software.

See more on Openforum Europe Summit 2011 event: http://www.openforumeurope.org/events/2011-events/summit2011/invitation

CrisisCamp Paris follow up: new energies to help in humanitarian crisis

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-06-24T10:40:00Z

"It was in Paris at the 2011 Summit of European CrisisCamps, that I felt, understood, the true power of the Crisis Campers fast growing community: no tweet, blog post, article, or paper can replace the experience of being in person within that small crowd of extremely motivated, capable and genuinely devout people! (and yet I’m blogging in the hope that some reader will get inspired)."

Check out Francesco's post: New energies to help in humanitarian crisis

A new partnership and a new project: GEM Nexus

Silvia Giachetti — 2011-06-17T11:10:00Z

The Global Earthquake Model initiative (GEM) aims to establish uniform, open standards to calculate and communicate earthquake risk worldwide.

We are glad to have started to work with GEM, as we embrace and share the same philosophy.

The first version of the GEM Nexus platform has just been released and we will continue to make it evolve, to always better serve the needs of its worldwide community.

See the project case: Gem Nexus Collaboration Platform