IEEE Humanitarian Technologies (HT) is a consortium of programs and initiatives—supported by a global network of volunteers and technical professionals—working together to apply technology to solve the world's most pressing problems.
In keeping with the IEEE mission of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, IEEE HT provides the resources, partnerships, and tools for developing and deploying innovative solutions to advance sustainable development goals globally while achieving social and environmental impact locally.
The consortium of IEEE HT programs leverages the strength and reach of the IEEE network to make a difference in local communities around the globe. There are many ways to get involved, including:
- Volunteering time and skills to ongoing initiatives
- Applying for funding to deploy an innovation technology solution that solves a local challenge
- Donating money to the IEEE Foundation to support the work of each program
- Spreading the word about IEEE HT and encouraging others to get involved
IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board (HTB)
In keeping with the IEEE mission of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity, IEEE HT provides the framework, but the IEEE HTB advises the work of IEEE Humanitarian Technologies. HTB inspires and empowers IEEE volunteers worldwide who carry out and support impactful humanitarian technology activities at the local level. HTB supports impactful and ethically informed volunteer-led initiatives, programs and projects, and mutually beneficial partnerships, as well as informing policies that harness technology and innovation to address societal challenges (including disaster recovery) in a responsive, effective, and sustainable way.
IEEE HT Programs
The Empower a Billion Lives competition, an IEEE-PELS initiative, helps the global community create and demonstrate sustainable solutions for energy access that are technically and economically viable—and can rapidly scale to impact the one billion+ around the world who live in extreme energy poverty.
EPICS in IEEE empowers students to work with local service organizations to apply technical knowledge to solve a community's unique challenges. Through service learning projects students enhance their practical engineering and professional skills preparing them for their future engineering careers.
The IEEE Community Outreach Initiative (aka "the MOVE Project") offers a mobile emergency relief program that assists victims of natural disasters with short-term communications and power solutions. When not deployed for a disaster, MOVE volunteers visit schools, libraries, festivals, and other venues to provide STEM outreach to the public.
IEEE REACH provides teachers and students with educational resources that explore the relationship between technology and engineering history and their complex relationships with society, politics, economics, and culture. REACH offers a one-stop shop of resources that bring the history of technology and engineering to life in the classroom.
The IEEE Special Interest Group on Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT) program is a network of IEEE volunteers around the globe partnering with local communities and organizations to leverage technology for sustainable development. SIGHT operates through groups that apply technology-based solutions to sustainable development challenges.
Access to electricity creates opportunity and improves lives in remote communities around the world. IEEE Smart Village brings together local entrepreneurs, experienced engineers, expert educators, and passionate volunteers to seed-fund, launch, sustain, and develop clean energy and advanced education systems that serve community needs.
IEEE Societies and Regions that have sponsored Tech4Good calls for project proposals:
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.
Partners
As the philanthropic partner of IEEE, the IEEE Foundation is the heart of IEEE charitable giving. We expand the IEEE charitable body of work by inspiring philanthropic engagement that ignites a donor’s innermost interests and values. Together, we deliver opportunity, innovation and impact, and advance the IEEE mission across the globe.
Donors can direct gifts to specific IEEE HT programs through a dedicated online giving page.
