The IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB) inspires and empowers IEEE volunteers around the world carrying out and supporting impactful humanitarian technology activities at the local level.
The IEEE 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.
IEEE SIGHT
IEEE 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. Its vision is for underserved communities around the world to be able to benefit from technology as they seek sustainable solutions to development challenges.
IEEE Tech4Good
A direct program of IEEE HTB, IEEE Tech4Good provides funding for grassroots projects that utilize technology to address the pressing needs of the member’s local communities. Projects must address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Teams build relationships with local NGOs, government entities, schools and universities, neighborhood associations, or companies to identify a specific need and implement a plan to address it through technology development, customization, or deployment.
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.
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.
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.
IEEE REACH
Understanding that technology and history are not mutually exclusive subjects, IEEE REACH provides pre-university teachers with free, open educational resources that situate science, technology, and engineering in their social and humanistic contexts. The program offers a one-stop shop of resources that bring to life the history of technology and engineering in the classroom, as well as an opportunity to expose students to the different ways that science and technology interrelate and play out in society.