Changing perceptions through innovation
A technology-backed community safety network set up in the Georgian region of Shida Kartli, adjacent to the divide with South Osseita, shows how Saferworld is taking innovative steps to increase the impact of its community security work.
Shida Kartli and South Ossetia were at the centre of the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia. Although by 2011 the number of security incidents along this divide had decreased, people still faced a range of security challenges including shooting incidents and detentions near the boundary line, difficulties collecting firewood, and limited access to water and pastures. The ill-defined boundary line was also having an adverse impact on people’s ability to work and trade, increasing poverty and driving people out of the region.
Efforts to improve the security of communities along the divide had been hampered by the difficulties of tracking security threats and sharing information across these remote communities. This meant people in the area were relying on rumours for their information, which only increases feelings of insecurity and reduces trust. It also meant security actors lacked local security information on which to base their responses.
To address these issues, the Caucasus Research Resource Centers and Saferworld, with support from the Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development, established a community safety network, backed up by an online and SMS-based communication platform. The network – based on a group of trusted representatives from 18 communities in the area – has built trust among communities as well as with security providers and has provided early warning of increased tensions. It has provided a durable and cost-effective way for communities living along the divide to communicate with each other and with relevant security actors – providing access to locally informed, up-to-date information on security issues. This network complements and enhances our other community security work in the region which involves mapping security problems directly with communities and finding locally appropriate responses.
The technology platform behind the network uses a ‘crowdsourcing’ approach and allows representatives to communicate with each other by sending text messages to a single phone number connected to a central computer.
Representatives complete weekly questionnaires by text, providing baseline data about security and safety which is stored online. The system automatically analyses and visualises this data, giving the ability to track patterns of incidents over time.
Texts are also used for emergencies – primarily to respond to detentions – and to provide information on local events or lessons learned. The representatives are an important link with their community – sharing information both from and to the network. The information gathered can also be communicated to local authorities, the police and the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) as appropriate.
An assessment in April 2012 found that the network had reduced reliance on rumour and increased the sense of security in participating communities, created greater understanding and support between different communities, and increased communication with security actors on emergency issues. Between October 2011 and March 2012, representatives reported nine emergency situations – mostly detentions – and monitored and analysed 521 security incidents, 2,053 visits by security providers, and 36 interactions with communities across the divide. The ability of the network to provide information about detentions has been particularly important in reducing feelings of insecurity.
The network is a simple, accessible and relevant model that offers a practical way to understand better the perspectives of local communities. Its use of simple and cheap technology means it is also transferable to other fragile contexts.