The GSMA Humanitarian Positioning Strategy: A Catalytic Approach to Cross-Sector Partnerships in Support of Humanitarian Assistance

The GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) programme works to catalyse and support partnerships between the mobile industry and the humanitarian sector.

In 2023, the GSMA published the Humanitarian Partnership Framework, outlining our approach to supporting cross-sector collaboration. A crucial first step in this process is the Humanitarian Positioning Strategy (HPS) – a structured approach of working with mobile network operators (MNOs) to develop strategies for creating and expanding partnerships with local humanitarian organisations.

Our new report, The GSMA Humanitarian Positioning Strategy, builds on these foundations, exploring the outcomes and impact of four M4H-supported strategies with:

• Econet in Burundi
• Safaricom in Kenya
• Telesom in Somaliland
• Airtel in Uganda

The report highlights how these strategies have enabled the four MNOs to engage with over 60 humanitarian partners and co-develop more than 30 innovative, mobile-enabled humanitarian projects.

It also explores the motivations and benefits for MNOs in taking a more proactive role in working with the humanitarian sector – demonstrating how the mobile industry can play a powerful role in supporting communities in crisis.