Thomas Byrnes, Market Impact, Norwegian Refugee Council

Topic: Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Response: Enhancing Cash Assistance in Sudan

This session explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being applied to improve the speed, efficiency through a deep dive into the NRC’s AI-Enhanced Cash Tool project in Sudan.

Drawing on lessons from NRC’s 2024 pilot, the session will show how AI tools can support faster identification of households, optimize targeting, and reduce operational delays—while navigating constraints like limited connectivity and incomplete data. The session also tackles ethical concerns, including data privacy, bias, and transparency in decision-making.

Participants will gain insights into the practical realities of deploying AI in complex emergency settings and will be invited to discuss how to scale such tools responsibly to ensure they serve affected populations fairly and effectively.