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IEEE International Humanitarian Technologies Conference

The IEEE International Humanitarian Technology Conference (IEEE IHTC) is a Multi-Regional Conference Series rotating between R7 (Canada), R8 (Africa, Europe and Middle East), and R9 (Latin America and Caribbean). This inter-disciplinary conference series focuses on showcasing challenges, success stories, lessons learnt, case studies and technological innovation related to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ICT4D and the application of Humanitarian Technologies (including Disaster Relief and Disaster Recovery) and facilitating engagement by stakeholders from the public, private, education and research and societal sectors around the world.

IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica Conference

The IEEE PES/IAS PowerAfrica Conference is the leading conference on the African continent focused on addressing its power and energy challenges. The conference provides a forum for researchers, engineers, policy makers and practitioners from Africa and beyond to share and discuss research findings, innovative ideas, emerging technologies and solutions to pressing challenges in the African energy sector. All researchers who work outside of the continent are invited to come learn from the energy innovations emanating from Africa and share innovations and experience from other regions of the world.

EPICS in IEEE

EPICS in IEEE empowers students to work with local service organizations to apply technical knowledge to implement solutions for a community’s unique challenges. In this way, EPICS in IEEE not only assists communities in achieving their specific local community improvement goals but also encourages students to pursue engineering for community improvement as a career.

IEEE Smart Village

IEEE Smart Village (ISV) has a unique approach to support the world’s energy-impoverished communities by providing a comprehensive solution combining renewable energy, community-based education, and entrepreneurial opportunities. ISV provides seed-funding to carefully selected community entrepreneurs based upon a credible business plan that will impact significant number of people with electricity, education and jobs.

IEEE Empower a Billion Lives

IEEE Empower a Billion Lives is a global competition aimed at fostering innovation to develop solutions to electricity access. Solutions are expected to be scalable, regionally relevant, holistic, and leverage 21st century technologies with exponentially declining prices.

MOVE Community Outreach

MOVE Community Outreach is an emergency relief program committed to assisting victims of natural disasters with short-term communications, computer, and power solutions. Natural disasters can severely impact individuals, families, and communities around the world. The restoration of electricity and communications is often of primary importance during these challenging times—because when power and connectivity is lost, people have no lights, no means to recharge mobile phones, and no way to reach out.

What is HTB and SIGHT?

The IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB) mission is to support impactful and ethically informed volunteer-led initiatives, programs and projects, and mutually beneficial partnerships, as well as to inform policy formulation that harness technology and innovation to address societal challenges (including disaster recovery) in a responsive, effective, and sustainable way.

The IEEE Special Interest Group on Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT) is a global network of groups consisting of IEEE members and volunteers who identify and address local problems by applying their technical skills and partnering with their local communities.

What about SIGHT groups?

SIGHT groups consist of at least six IEEE members who come together to learn about sustainable development, build relationships within their local communities, and implement SIGHT group projects that utilize technology to tackle key problems within the community. Non-IEEE members are welcome and encouraged to join their local SIGHT group. Groups can be formed at the professional or university level. SIGHT Group’s main purpose is to partner with underserved communities and local organizations to leverage technology for sustainable development.

In order for a SIGHT Group to be considered as active, the following requirements should be followed:

• Membership: Should maintain a membership of not fewer than six (6) IEEE members.
• Activities: Should hold not less than two (2) Group activities per year reported in vTools Events.
• Leadership: Should hold elections regularly and report any changes in vTools Officers.

Learning Resources

The IEEE Learning Network (ILN) is the online website for discovering continuing education from across IEEE. With hundreds of educational courses available—and more added all the time—ILN offers the latest in continuing education in engineering, technology, and more. IEEE HTB & SIGHT have developed an educational curriculum on Humanitarian Technology and Sustainable Development at IEEE that is housed on the ILN. There are 6 different modules, and it is tailored for busy IEEE members, each module should take only 20 – 30 minutes to complete.

The Engineering for Change (E4C) is a hybrid organization with three integrated arms: An online academy, innovation lab, and a media platform. E4C’s mission is to improve the lives of underserved communities by better preparing the global development workforce, optimizing the solutions development cycle, and ensuring public health and safety. E4C in collaboration with IEEE has developed a learning framework and courses for Introduction to Engineering for Global Development.

An integral part of IEEE HTB’s strategic mission is to offer educational resources and training to equip IEEE members and volunteers to impact their local communities through sustainable development activities. Webinars are one way that SIGHT members can learn new ideas, grow their professional acumen, and connect with an extended community of engineers affecting sustainable change around the world.

Awards and Recognition

The IEEE Region 8 Outstanding Section / Student Branch SIGHT Group of the Year Award was established to recognize the essential work of the existing section / student branch SIGHT groups in Region 8, but also to promote and encourage sections / student branches to create SIGHT groups. The purpose of this award is to recognize a Section / Student Branch SIGHT Group who has made an outstanding contribution to IEEE SIGHT and to the local underserved community by leveraging technology to accomplish a sustainable solution.

The IEEE SIGHT Group of the Year Award was established to recognize IEEE SIGHT Groups committed to impacting their local underserved community through the development or deployment of technology.

The IEEE SIGHT Volunteer of the Year Award was established to recognize a professional or student member of IEEE who has made an outstanding contribution to IEEE SIGHT and a local underserved community through the development or deployment of technology.

Mission and Goals

The IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Activities Committee (HuAC) mission is to inspire and empower IEEE volunteers around Europe, Middle East, and Africa to carry out and support impactful humanitarian technologies and sustainable development activities. In particular, our goals include:

• Building the optimal humanitarian team in the Region.
• Mentoring existing SIGHT groups and prospective groups.
• Supporting SIGHT groups activities and encouraging them to participate in Regional humanitarian activities.
• Increasing visibility of Humanitarian Activities within the Region.
• Raising awareness of ongoing HTB/SIGHT activities and encouraging submission of project proposals.
• Encouraging reporting of activities via vTools by monitoring and reaching out.
• Encouraging celebration of SIGHT Week across the Region.
• Encouraging Student and Young Professional involvement in Humanitarian Activities.
• Encouraging and highlighting the women involvement in humanitarian activities.
• Organizing R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress and collaborating in organizing humanitarian conferences.
• Collaborating with other IEEE OUs and with external organizations on humanitarian projects.
• Recognizing exceptional SIGHT Groups and volunteers.

Composition

Theodoros

Abdullateef

Lavender

George

Lucija

Jan

Nour

Omar

Neemat

Lwanga

Simay

Miriam

Magdalena

Mohamed

Programs and Initiatives

• Community Support Program: Provides support to R8 SIGHT Groups to implement community support projects to address local community challenges.
• Connecting Humanitarian Experts: Webinars on humanitarian topics presented by an expert in the field.
• Humanitarian Ambassadors Program: Supports and trains volunteers to share IEEE humanitarian opportunities across our Region and impact the local communities.
• R8 Humanitarian Activities Congress: Brings together R8 SIGHT group members to share results, lessons learnt and experience with peers across the Region, and to discuss and address various humanitarian and community development projects, as well as to promote the use of technology for social good.
• R8 Humanitarian Technologies Hackathon: Fosters competition amongst IEEE and SIGHT members, through their solutions to specific humanitarian challenges and targets tech proposals around specific UN SDGs.
• SIGHT Groups Accelerator Program: Provides R8 SIGHT Groups with a seed funding for the new year activities based on their humanitarian efforts and activities of the past year.
• SIGHT Groups Coordination Workshops: Provides support and guidance to R8 SIGHT Groups to overcome any operational or organizational issues and obstacles they face or could face in the future and to ensure their optimal functioning.
• Humanitarian Voices: Delivers news articles regarding humanitarian activities and initiatives across our Region supported by photos on the field, and highlight the achievements of SIGHT groups and inspire volunteers.
• Humanitarian Meets STEM Initiative: Targets to spread IEEE Humanitarian Efforts and introduce sustainable development goals to pre-university students.
• Humanitarian Opportunities from Societies Initiative: Targets to boost collaboration an partnerships between R8 HuAC and Societies.

Current Opportunities and Upcoming Events

• SIGHT Groups Regional Report: This form will be used to hear from R8 SIGHT leaders about their Groups and how we can improve our support in order to ensure their optimal functioning
• Humanitarian Voices: SIGHT Groups can showcase and share their achievements in order to get published in R8 News and inspire volunteers across Europe, Middle East and Africa