Digitization a game changer in humanitarian services and research: Lessons from the Jengu Handwashing study in Daadab

Digital technologies are becoming an integral part of humanitarian responses and increasingly facilitate access to critical support in crises. Studies have shown that digital platforms can strengthen transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency in resource-constrained environments (Agung, 2017; Ólafsson, 2024). For instance, the Open Data Kit tool (ODK), is widely used in humanitarian settings for data collection, due to its ability to function offline and support real-time data validation (UNOCHA, 2024). Similarly, several digital platforms such as Redrose, 121, amongst others are used for cash and in-kind assistance programming and have been recognized for enhancing traceability and enabling digital audits in aid distribution (CaLP, 2018).

Efficient and transparent aid distribution is a central concern in humanitarian programming, particularly in complex refugee settings where the risk of exclusion, duplication, or data inaccuracy can compromise impact. Between 2021 and 2024, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) collaborated with the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), ARUP, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and the British Red Cross (BRC) to integrate digital technologies in the implementation of the Jengu Handwashing Study in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya.