Shaping the future: Our strategy for research and innovation in humanitarian response.
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WHAT IS THE HUMANITARIAN NEED?

Family tracing and reunification practices in emergencies are long-winded and inefficient leaving children vulnerable to violence, exploitation and trafficking.

Currently there is a lack of flexible technology to facilitate reunification and tracing in emergencies which is easy to use, understand and deploy by partner organisations.

WHAT IS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION?

RapidFTR is designed to streamline and speed up Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) efforts both in the immediate aftermath of a crisis and during ongoing recovery efforts. The technology’s versatility and open-source nature allows for each organisation to use it on a device of their choosing as well as share data safely between organisations when necessary.

Added Value:

RapidFTR functionality has been developed for the web and Blackberry platforms. The next stage of development includes both extending the functionality and supporting other devices, specifically Androids and Netbooks. By developing a netbook client, UNICEF will create instances of RapidFTR that are fully independent of the need to connect to the internet.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES?

Input:
Development of Android and Netbook platforms for non-Blackberry users to expand usage potential, support when RapidFTR is deployed and maintenance of system in response to feedback.

Deliverables:

  • RapidFTR Application for use on Android devices and Netbooks
  • RapidFTR Web Application / API
  • RapidFTR Application for use on BlackBerry decides, OS version 4.6 to current
  • USB installer for netbooks/notebooks and locally-managed servers not connected to the internet

Impact:
Children and families who have become separated in the chaos of a natural disaster or political emergency will be reunited more quickly. Information about separated children is immediately shareable amongst partners, and across camps and borders, while also avoiding the need to re-interview children multiple times at every place they end up (initial registration, transit camps etc).

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Project Resources
Report Information Management, Communication & Technology

Final Report: RapidFTR (Rapid Family Tracing)

Latest Updates

RAPIDFTR (Rapid family tracing)

10 Feb 2012

UNICEF gives a breakdown of progress over the past few months of the RapidFTR project.

View 2012Feb

From New York to Uganda

15 Jun 2012

The team transfer technical direction of the project from UNICEF headquarters in New York to the UNICEF country office in Kampala.

View Jun

Nyakabande transit centre

24 Aug 2012

The team visit the Nyakabande Transit Centre, where hundreds of people arrive each week, fleeing violence in DRC.

View Aug

Facilitating innovation in open-source collaboration

05 Dec 2012

UNICEF work to ensure that the open-source volunteers and the new, full-time software development team collaborate and move the project forward together.

View Dec

Final report

01 Apr 2013

The RapidFTR team publish their final report.

View 2013Apr

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