<aside> âšī¸ This presentation was given at PAIRS 2026 in New Delhi on 18th February 2026 at 09:30 IST
đī¸ Thread on PAIRS Discussion Server (Discord) (register first)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL0m6oby20s&t=1080s
This talk explores participatory AI in humanitarian crises, focusing on "community in the loop" to counter power imbalances between aid actors and displaced populations. This presentation draws on the findings from a 2024 pilot in Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Settlement (Kenya), operationalising "community in the loop" for humanitarian AI governance. Amid accelerating AI adoption in crises - yet minimal engagement of communities in crisis - we consulted 192 displaced residents via surveys, focus groups, and orientations, prioritising local facilitators, remuneration, and power-sharing.
Findings reveal high AI optimism and nuanced understandings of the role of technology, shaped by camp realities: restricted mobility, aid dependency, cultural hierarchies, and fears of child impacts or job loss. While recognising the potential impact of AI, communities demand direct influence on decisions, ensuring accountability for the systems impacting them.
We propose operational frameworks that move beyond tokenism towards deployment of just, accountable AI systems. This includes: sustained citizens' assemblies, AI literacy transfer, and value-aligned co-design. Aligned with PAIRS themes, this advances participatory practice for high-stakes crisis contexts, reversing the focus of humanitarian and development decision-making, from global to local.