Digital Inequality and Resilience in Humanitarian Refugee Organizations

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We explore resilience and digital inequality within refugee-oriented humanitarian organizations during COVID-19. Interview data show that individual and organizational digital inequality are interdependent and that ICTs can serve as both facilitators and barriers to resilience. Individual employees and refugees mitigated digital inequality that significantly hampered organizational operation, yet such efforts unveil a tension where digitally proficient individuals may encounter disruptions in their routine work, jeopardizing organizational resilience. We contribute to existing research about resilience and ICTs by showcasing how digital inequality emerges as an interdependent disruption to individuals and organizations. This necessitates systemic interventions to alleviate technological cleavages to bolster the resilience of refugees and the organizations serving them.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)2715-2736
Number of pages22
JournalInternational Journal of Communication
Volume19
StatePublished - 2025
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication

Keywords

  • digital inequality
  • organizational technology
  • refugee organizations
  • resilience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Digital Inequality and Resilience in Humanitarian Refugee Organizations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this