Disaster Response Simulation at Global Disaster Relief Summit

As a world premiere on an international stage, the Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) hosted an interactive mobile-based Disaster Response Simulation to recreate post-crisis supply chain challenges for humanitarian and development professionals.

Using virtual and live action role play, the Disaster Response Simulation allowed participants of the Global Disaster Relief & Development Summit in Washington D.C. to represent one of the four sectors working in a crisis scenario: business, government, individual or non-profit organisations. The objective was to coordinate an efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance to countries affected by a recent natural disaster.

The scenario presented a natural disaster in the fictional countries of Republia and Terratoras, which threatened the lives of tens of thousands. Aid agencies based in Republia and Terratoras as well as neighbouring countries were responding to a humanitarian crisis caused by the worst natural disaster in recent years. Victims were in need of key commodities such as shelter, medical supplies and WASH products.

The participants used smartphones/tablets to play the role of supplier (private sector), government (public sector) or NGO (non-government organisation) in this crisis scenario. Each role had a different objective, requiring players to coordinate and collaborate with different stakeholders, demographics and partners in order to keep supply lines open and reduce overlap. The roles were assigned at the beginning of the session and differed from the day-to-day occupations of the participants in order to provide them with a different perspective of the situation.

Watch the Disaster Response Simulation highlights video and learn how the international relief community responded to a natural disaster. The interactive visual analytics that show collective performance of the Disaster Response Simulation are available here.

The thought-provoking interactive learning lab was sponsored by NRS International and facilitated by Jamison Day, Chief Data Scientist at the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN). The outcomes of the session were discussed in the panel that followed with Garret Ingoglia, VP Emergency Response, AmeriCares, Alex Balint, Sr. Manager for Social Partnerships - Emergency Unit, ADRA, Duncan Cohen, Logistics Officer, USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and Hilmi Mohamed, Senior Coordinator & Technical Specialist for Shelter and Settlements, InterAction.

Global Disaster Relief & Development Summit will once again take place in Washington D.C. on 6-7 September 2017. Hosted at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, the Summit will gather 300+ senior representatives of government and UN agencies, national and international NGOs, donor organisations, military, research institutes, private sector, and the media.

For more information about the Summit or how to participate, please visit global.aidforum.org or take a look at the Post Event Report & Storify