AI set to reshape Qatar’s charitable and humanitarian work

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize charitable and humanitarian efforts in Qatar, according to experts in the field. By leveraging AI, organizations can transcend conventional responses, shifting towards predictive crisis management, data-driven planning, precise identification of vulnerable populations, and enhanced project impact assessment.

Qatar's charitable and humanitarian sector officials and experts recognize AI's potential to enhance operational efficiency, expedite disaster responses, optimize resource allocation, and elevate beneficiary services.

AI's ability to swiftly process extensive data, amalgamating satellite imagery, digital maps, and other information, enables it to swiftly evaluate damages and pinpoint areas in dire need. Predictive models help organizations foresee crises, allocate resources preemptively, and devise response plans, thereby improving the promptness and efficacy of humanitarian interventions.

Dr Ayed Dabsan al-Qahtani, CEO of Thani Bin Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation, emphasized AI's urgent necessity in charitable and humanitarian work, given its capacity to accelerate operations and refine crisis responses. He highlighted AI's pivotal role in advancing charitable activities, especially as conflicts, disasters, and emergencies escalate the demand for assistance.

Intelligent systems can aggregate and analyze vast amounts of data within seconds to forecast potential needs in specific regions, empowering organizations to devise apt plans and resources. AI can determine safe routes in affected areas and ascertain the type of aid required, such as culturally appropriate food. Moreover, AI can forecast potential floods and earthquakes using weather and geological data, generate real-time damage maps, and interpret satellite imagery to identify collapsed structures and obstructed roads.

These capabilities assist rescue teams in prioritizing interventions, facilitating aid distribution, and bolstering health and social care efforts, including combating epidemics.

Talib Afifa, acting executive director of the Qatar Society for the Rehabilitation of Special Needs, underscored AI's potential to augment charitable and humanitarian endeavors. He stressed that AI should complement human efforts, not supplant them, enhancing decision-making and amplifying the impact of donations and programs. For beneficiaries, AI-powered assistants can provide round-the-clock support, streamline applications and follow-ups, and offer information in multiple languages.

AI could also assist people with disabilities by offering communication and translation tools, speech-to-text and text-to-speech technologies, and improved access to electronic services, enabling data-driven program design.

AI could further fortify fundraising and outreach by scrutinizing donor patterns and preferences, enabling organizations to devise more compelling campaigns and produce awareness content swiftly. However, Afifa stressed the indispensable role of human oversight to ensure precision and suitability. Mohamed Ali al-Ghamdi, assistant CEO for governance and shared services at Qatar Charity, described AI as a transformative strategic driver, improving operational efficiency, service quality, and the humanitarian impact of programs worldwide.

He noted AI's transition from a mere technical tool to a factor influencing work methods, decision-making, and resource management. By automating administrative tasks, AI liberates humanitarian workers to concentrate on direct beneficiary engagement.

Al-Ghamdi highlighted Qatar Charity's significant investment in AI as part of its digital transformation, implementing the technology gradually within a governance framework that balances innovation, data protection, and ethical standards. The charity employs AI to streamline tasks such as automated document reading, verification of document validity, bank statement analysis, and inconsistency detection in submitted information.

AI's integration into modern life, as emphasized by Amir al-Mulla, executive director of the Qatar Society for the Rehabilitation of Special Needs, suggests its growing influence and promise for advancing charitable and humanitarian activities. Al-Mulla stressed the importance of keeping abreast of AI developments to harness its capabilities, noting that these technologies are already embedded in everyday devices like smartphones and computers and are expected to proliferate further.