CDAC Network launches SAFE AI project to establish responsible AI framework for humanitarians
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CDAC Network, The Alan Turing Institute, and Humanitarian AI Advisory launch a groundbreaking SAFE AI initiative amid growing concerns over unregulated AI use in humanitarian response.
AI has the ability to accelerate safe innovation and change humanitarian action for the better. Yet, there is a real risk of an underfunded, overstretched humanitarian sector accelerating towards unsafe use of AI to reduce costs with serious unintended consequences for vulnerable populations.
In response to this rapidly evolving landscape, CDAC Network has partnered with The Alan Turing Institute and Humanitarian AI Advisory to launch the SAFE AI project: Standards and Assurance Framework for Ethical Artificial Intelligence. This timely initiative, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), will develop a foundational framework for enabling responsible AI in humanitarian action.
“AI has so much potential to bolster humanitarian delivery. This work will help us to understand how we can do this responsibly, which is a critical part to greater adoption,” said Colum Wilson, Deputy Director, Humanitarian Department, FCDO.
This initiative will create the first practical and useable SAFE AI framework for the humanitarian sector, bringing together four key pillars:
AI governance: Creating clear guidelines and policy recommendations that align with emerging global AI regulations while addressing humanitarian-specific concerns.
AI assurance: Developing practical tools to evaluate AI systems for fairness, reliability, and trustworthiness before deployment in crisis settings.
Community participation: Ensuring crisis-affected populations have meaningful input into how AI shapes the assistance they receive.
Humanitarian engagement: Working directly with frontline organisations to test and refine solutions that balance innovation with ethical principles.
To kickstart this critical work, a SAFE AI roundtable will be held by FCDO in London on 17 March, convening leading voices from technology companies, humanitarian agencies, and donor institutions. On 26 March at 16:00-17.30 CET (Geneva time), we will hold a public launch streamed live online during Humanitarian Partnerships and Network Week in Geneva. Register for that event here.
“The SAFE AI initiative is critical in this moment of great change and innovation in the humanitarian sector. It will provide a practical path on how it might be possible to harness AI to maximise the impact of saving lives, while being built with crisis-affected communities interests and needs at the heart.”
Helen McElhinney, Executive Director of CDAC Network.
“At this unique moment in time for the humanitarian sector, AI offers a compelling tool to help address the growing humanitarian needs. However, doing so without introducing unintended consequences is not easy. This framework serves as a step-by-step guide for the humanitarian sector.”
Michael Tjalve, Founder, Humanitarian AI Advisory.
The project is an open participatory project that will be stronger with input from communities affected by crisis and people in the humanitarian sector playing an active role. We encourage anyone to get in touch if they want to be involved, can share ideas, feedback or tips with the team. Get in touch or to get involved, please contact info@cdacnetwork.org pr via the button below.
For more information about the SAFE AI project keep an eye on our SAFE AI webpage, and follow @CDAC-Network on LinkedIn.
