The Bridge - Issue 3, 2023 - 10

Feature
Leading the Global Frontiers of IEEE Humanitarian Engineering and Technologies Programs
HAC's achievements set the stage for HTB to build upon its
growth by deepening partnerships with IEEE organizational
units, providing members with engaging opportunities,
and representing IEEE externally to build awareness of the
role of technology in sustainable development. The HTB
transition is a major milestone for humanitarian technology
activities at IEEE.
The core vision of HTB inspires and empowers IEEE
volunteers around the world to carry out and support
impactful humanitarian technology activities at the
local level. HTB's mission is to support impactful and
ethically informed volunteer-led initiatives, programs, and
projects, and mutually beneficial partnerships, as well as
inform policy formulation that harnesses technology and
innovation to address societal challenges (including disaster
recovery) in a responsive, effective, and sustainable way.
Today, HTB is centered on the following four areas
of strategic focus:
1) Raising Awareness: HTB increases understanding
of the role of engineering and technology in sustainable
development.
2) Training: HTB provides educational resources and
opportunities so that humanitarian technology participants
can have a greater positive impact.
3) Supporting Humanitarian Technology and
Sustainable Development Activities: HTB awards funding
for grassroots IEEE member projects that utilize technology
to address local challenges.
4) Building a Sustainable Development Community:
HTB collaborates across and beyond IEEE to foster
opportunities in sustainable development.
students or graduate students. Membership grew by over
50% in 2022 and is on track to do the same in 2023.
SIGHT encourages members to form groups to learn about
sustainable development, build relationships within their
local communities, and implement projects that utilize
technology to tackle key challenges that the community is
facing. Since SIGHT's inception in 2011, 221 SIGHT groups
have been established in 50+ countries.
IEEE SIGHT's vision is that " underserved communities
around the world are able to benefit from technology
as they seek sustainable solutions to development
challenges. "
Its mission is to be a network of IEEE volunteers around
the globe that partner with underserved communities and
local organizations to leverage technology for sustainable
development.
IEEE SIGHT's values are:
* To focus on sustainable solutions that make a long term
difference in people's lives.
* To operate through local volunteers and partners working
with local communities.
* To consider success is only achieved through partnerships,
starting with the community and extending to government
organizations, NGOs, schools, hospitals, companies,
and others.
* For SIGHT and its volunteers to be both effective
and sustainable, continuous training and education
are essential.
* " Local " is defined by the fact that key leaders of the
project are citizens and/or permanent residents of the
geographical area in which the project is to take place.
IEEE HTB Strategic Areas of Focus
III. IEEE Special Interest Group on
Humanitarian Technologies
IEEE SIGHT is a popular feet-on-the-ground initiative
operating as an HTB program. SIGHT's global network of
volunteers partner with underserved communities and
local organizations to leverage technology for sustainable
development. As of August 2023, there are over 42,000
individual SIGHT members in 131 countries; 68% are
THE BRIDGE
IV. HTB/SIGHT Funded Project Case Studies
The role of engineers in sustainable development is vital, as
they are well equipped to implement designs and solutions
that address humanitarian issues in the sustainable
development space. IEEE facilitates technological solutions
to challenges around the world through HTB and its
volunteers, who make an impact in the lives of many
people in their surrounding communities.
One of HTB's areas of focus is " Supporting Humanitarian
Technology and Sustainable Development Activities, " such
as funding for grassroots IEEE member projects that utilize
technology to address local challenges. Since 2013, IEEE
HTB (and its predecessor HAC) and IEEE SIGHT have
provided funding to IEEE members who have prepared
and implemented humanitarian technology and sustainable
development projects in their local communities. Since
2013, IEEE HTB and SIGHT have awarded over USD
$3.29 million to 507 humanitarian technology projects and
The Bridge - Issue 3, 2023

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