NetHope

NetHope is a United States-based nonprofit consortium focused on using information and communications technology to strengthen humanitarian response, international development, and conservation work. Established in 2001, it brings together nearly 60 international nonprofit organizations and works with a broad network of technology companies, telecommunications providers, satellite operators, and other private-sector partners. Its members operate in more than 180 countries, while NetHope itself maintains regional chapters and staff presence across North America, Europe, and Africa. The organization emerged from a practical problem faced by large international aid agencies: each organization often had to solve connectivity, communications, cybersecurity, and information-management challenges independently, even when they were working in the same emergency or development setting. Edward G. Happ, then chief information officer of Save the Children, articulated the case for collective action in a 2001 paper often referred to as “Wiring the Global Village.” The argument was that international nonprofits could obtain communications infrastructure more efficiently by collaborating, and that a collective could negotiate more effectively with corporate technology partners. The concept was presented to Cisco’s corporate philanthropy group, and Cisco fellow Dipak Basu is credited with coining the NetHope name. NetHope’s work spans humanitarian emergency response, longer-term development, and conservation. Its activities have included deploying satellite and wireless networks, providing voice and data communications, helping aid agencies share information, supporting cybersecurity, and coordinating technology resources among organizations responding to the same crisis. The consortium’s model is collaborative rather than consumer-facing: it generally develops or arranges shared infrastructure for nonprofit members and their field teams instead of selling mass-market connectivity under a conventional commercial brand. One of its best-known early initiatives was the NetReliefKit, developed with Cisco and Inmarsat. The solar-powered wireless system used a satellite uplink to provide Internet access in locations where terrestrial communications had been damaged or were unavailable. The equipment was distributed for use by organizations including Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam, and Mercy Corps, and was deployed after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. NetHope subsequently supported communications operations after major disasters including the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. In Haiti, it helped establish temporary telecommunications links for relief groups with support from Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, and Inveneo. In the Philippines, it worked through the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster and partners including British Telecom and satellite providers to establish VSAT and voice-over-IP services in areas where normal communications had been disrupted. During the 2015–2016 Syrian refugee crisis in Europe, NetHope installed wireless networks and mobile-device charging systems at more than 76 locations along migration routes, especially in Greece and also in the Balkans and Central Europe. It partnered with Cisco and Microsoft to add cybersecurity protections to the humanitarian network. The system reportedly supported more than 600,000 devices, illustrating NetHope’s role as a coordinator of shared digital infrastructure rather than simply a provider of standalone equipment. NetHope’s technology partnerships have included Accenture, Amazon, Cisco, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Oracle NetSuite, Inmarsat, British Telecom, and other technology and connectivity companies. Its positioning is based on pooled expertise, shared procurement, emergency interoperability, and the idea that reliable digital access is a core enabler of humanitarian logistics, safety, coordination, and accountability.

NetHope was founded in 2001 after Edward G. Happ, then the chief information officer of Save the Children, developed a proposal for improving communications among international nonprofit organizations. His paper, “Wiring the Global Village,” argued that humanitarian agencies could solve connectivity problems more quickly and economically by working together instead of independently duplicating infrastructure and expertise. It also proposed that nonprofits would have greater influence with corporate technology suppliers if they approached those suppliers collectively. The proposal was presented to Cisco’s corporate philanthropy organization, where Cisco fellow Dipak Basu coined the NetHope name. From its beginning, NetHope was structured as a consortium rather than as a conventional technology vendor. Its members are large international nonprofit organizations whose programs require reliable information exchange in difficult operating environments. NetHope provides a mechanism for these organizations to share technical knowledge, coordinate with telecommunications and technology companies, and establish common infrastructure during emergencies. The organization has developed regional chapters in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, with its headquarters in McLean, Virginia, and personnel operating in multiple regions. An early technical milestone was the NetReliefKit, developed with Cisco and Inmarsat. The system combined solar power, wireless networking, and satellite connectivity in a portable package designed for locations where electricity and terrestrial communications were unavailable. It was intended to help relief agencies coordinate field activities, communicate with headquarters, and exchange information during disaster response. NetReliefKit systems were made available to nonprofit organizations including Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam, and Mercy Corps. The technology was used in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, when many aid organizations urgently needed communications capacity. NetHope’s disaster-response role became more visible after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Within days of the earthquake, the organization worked with Inveneo and technology partners to provide temporary connectivity for a group of relief organizations. Microsoft contributed $1.25 million to the response, while Cisco and Intel also supported the effort. The system provided a local data network and voice-over-IP capabilities so humanitarian groups could coordinate supplies, exchange assessments, and use online mapping and other information tools. The Haiti deployment also raised an operational and policy question about emergency connectivity. Local Internet service providers criticized the temporary network, arguing that it displaced commercial providers and threatened local business. Inveneo defended the deployment on the grounds that reliable connectivity was urgently required for aid coordination immediately after the earthquake. The parties discussed arrangements under which local providers could receive payment from nongovernmental organizations using their bandwidth, reflecting NetHope’s broader challenge of balancing rapid emergency intervention with local telecommunications markets. In 2013, NetHope participated in the response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines through the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster. The typhoon severely damaged homes and communications infrastructure across the Visayas. NetHope and British Telecom established VSAT data and voice services in several municipalities, while six Ku-band VSAT terminals and donated satellite capacity from AsiaSat, Speedcast, and SES extended coverage to other affected locations. The response was designed as a temporary bridge until broadband and mobile networks could be restored. During the 2015–2016 European refugee crisis, NetHope expanded its work from disaster recovery to sustained support for displaced populations. It installed wireless networks and mobile-device charging facilities at more than 76 sites along migration routes, most notably in Greece and also in Balkan and Central European locations. Cisco’s Tactical Operations group and Microsoft helped provide cybersecurity protections intended to reduce risks to sensitive information on users’ devices. The network ultimately supported more than 600,000 devices and became one of the largest purpose-built humanitarian networks described in the organization’s public history. NetHope now represents a continuing partnership model linking nonprofit agencies with major technology and communications companies. Its programs cover emergency response, humanitarian development, and conservation, with member organizations active in more than 180 countries. Rather than emphasizing a consumer product portfolio, NetHope’s identity rests on collective technology planning, field deployment, interoperability, digital security, and the use of connectivity as an essential part of humanitarian operations.

• 2015

  European refugee-route network deployment

  [1]NetHopeen.wikipedia.org

  NetHope begins installing wireless networks and charging systems at refugee-support sites across Europe.

• 2013

  Typhoon Haiyan communications response

  [1]NetHopeen.wikipedia.org

  NetHope coordinates VSAT, satellite bandwidth, and voice services for aid organizations in the Philippines.

• 2010

  Emergency network established in Haiti

  [1]NetHopeen.wikipedia.org

  NetHope and partners provide temporary Internet and voice communications for relief organizations following the Haiti earthquake.

• 2004

  NetReliefKit is developed

  [1]NetHopeen.wikipedia.org

  NetHope, Cisco, and Inmarsat develop a solar-powered wireless router with satellite uplink capabilities for humanitarian field operations.

• 2004

  Connectivity support after the Indian Ocean tsunami

  [1]NetHopeen.wikipedia.org

  NetHope deploys or supports its emergency communications technology after the tsunami disrupted infrastructure across affected areas.

• 2001

  NetHope is founded

  [1]NetHopeen.wikipedia.org

  Edward G. Happ’s proposal for collective nonprofit connectivity, presented to Cisco, provides the foundation for NetHope; Cisco fellow Dipak Basu gives the consortium its name.

A collaborative humanitarian technology consortium that helps international nonprofits obtain, deploy, and secure communications infrastructure in emergencies and underserved regions.

• Humanitarian communications equipment · 2004

  NetReliefKit

  The NetReliefKit was a portable, solar-powered wireless router developed with Cisco and Inmarsat. It used a satellite uplink to provide Internet connectivity in disaster zones and other locations lacking dependable terrestrial infrastructure. The system was intended for nonprofit relief agencies that needed to coordinate logistics, communicate with headquarters, exchange assessments, and maintain basic digital services during emergency operations.

• Humanitarian telecommunications

  Emergency Connectivity Deployments

  NetHope coordinates temporary wireless, satellite, VSAT, Internet, and voice-over-IP infrastructure for humanitarian organizations operating after disasters or in areas with limited connectivity. Deployments are assembled with nonprofit members, technology companies, telecommunications providers, and satellite operators and are generally designed to operate until local networks recover or longer-term arrangements become available.

• Cybersecurity services · 2015

  Humanitarian Cybersecurity Support

  NetHope works with technology partners to improve the security of humanitarian networks and connected devices. Its public examples include cybersecurity measures added to connectivity serving refugee populations in Europe, helping protect sensitive information used by aid workers and displaced people in complex and potentially hostile environments.

• 2015European Refugee Response Network

  Greece · Balkans · Central Europe

  NetHope installed wireless networks and mobile-phone charging systems at more than 76 refugee camps and community centers along European migration routes.

  Outcome. The purpose-built network supported more than 600,000 devices and incorporated cybersecurity protections developed with Cisco and Microsoft.

  Source
• 2013Typhoon Haiyan Emergency Telecommunications Response

  Philippines

  NetHope worked through the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster to restore communications for international and local response organizations in heavily affected areas.

  Outcome. VSAT, voice, and satellite services were provided in multiple locations, with temporary donated capacity intended to continue until terrestrial broadband and mobile networks returned.

  Source
• 2010Haiti Earthquake Emergency Connectivity

  Haiti

  NetHope coordinated a temporary communications network for relief organizations after the 2010 earthquake, with support from Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, and Inveneo.

  Outcome. The network enabled Internet-based coordination and voice communications, although local Internet providers later objected that the emergency system competed with their businesses.

  Source

• 2015

  Add cybersecurity to refugee-route connectivityStrategy

  Background

  Connectivity for refugees and aid workers created a need to protect sensitive information and connected devices in an unstable security environment.

  Action taken

  NetHope partnered with Cisco Tactical Operations and Microsoft to incorporate cybersecurity protections into networks deployed along European refugee routes.

  Aftermath

  The network expanded into a large-scale humanitarian communications platform supporting more than 600,000 devices.

  Source

• 2010

  Use a shared emergency network in HaitiStrategy

  Background

  The Haiti earthquake severely disrupted communications while relief organizations needed immediate connectivity for logistics, assessments, and coordination.

  Action taken

  NetHope and Inveneo established a temporary network supported by Microsoft, Cisco, and Intel rather than waiting for all local commercial infrastructure to recover.

  Aftermath

  Local Internet service providers criticized the arrangement as competitive with their services. The parties discussed compensating local providers for bandwidth used by nongovernmental organizations.

  Microsoft contribution. $1.25 million (2010 Haiti earthquake response)

  • Local Haitian Internet service providers — They argued that the temporary humanitarian network diverted business from local providers.

  Source

1. 1NetHopeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2NetHope Secures Technology and Innovation Grant from The Rockefeller Foundationrockefellerfoundation.org
3. 3NetHope official websitenethope.org