What do data transmission protocols at the network layer of the internet have to do with providing food and water to people affected by armed conflict? More than one might initially assume. These protocols are the backbone of digital communication, enabling us to send and receive messages and data across a complex and global system of networks that makes up the internet. Just like a navigation system would guide a vehicle through the road network to its destination, data transmission protocols guide or “route” data packets through a network of physical cables and nodes. The network layer of the internet is, therefore, an essential component of the digital transformation of humanitarian action, enabling everything from the real-time tracking of supply chains bringing food and water to crisis-affected areas to reliable access to lifesaving information for people affected by armed conflict and the collection, sharing, and treatment of personal data to deliver humanitarian services.
The digital transformation of the humanitarian sector – including the reliance on the internet and its network layer for communication – has profoundly revolutionized how organizations communicate, coordinate, and respond to crises. However, this transformation is not without its challenges. For instance, to be truly effective, the network layer of the internet and its protocols need to respond to the unique challenges of humanitarian contexts, such as operating in low-bandwidth or disrupted environments and ensuring data can be transmitted safely and securely while being protected from external surveillance and tampering – two challenges that, as we will discuss later, the current systems are arguably not sufficiently equipped to deal with.
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