References
Every factual claim in this kit links to a public primary source. Summaries are ours. Quotations are identified, attributed and used under the stated licences. Each entry records its own access date.
Core guidance (required)
IASC Operational Guidance on Data Responsibility in Humanitarian Action
- Publisher: Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
- Edition: Revised edition endorsed April 2023 (first edition February 2021)
- URL: https://centre.humdata.org/revised-iasc-operational-guidance-on-data-responsibility-in-humanitarian-action/
- Summary: Defines data responsibility across the humanitarian programme cycle: plan, assess, collect, share, analyse, store, and close. Emphasizes do-no-harm, dignity, and accountability to affected people.
- Licence/terms: Published by OCHA Centre for Humanitarian Data; check publisher page for reuse terms.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
OCHA Data Responsibility Guidelines
- Publisher: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
- Edition: Guidelines dated January 2025; published on Centre for Humanitarian Data site 20 February 2025
- URL: https://centre.humdata.org/data-responsibility-guidelines-2025/
- Summary: Practical guidelines for safe data handling, sharing, and analysis in humanitarian operations. Includes risk assessment and mitigation steps. Complements the IASC Operational Guidance (2023).
- Licence/terms: Published by OCHA Centre for Humanitarian Data; check publisher page for reuse terms.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
ICRC Handbook on Data Protection in Humanitarian Action
- Publisher: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- Edition: Third edition (ICRC page dated 19 November 2024)
- URL: https://www.icrc.org/en/data-protection-humanitarian-action-handbook
- Summary: Comprehensive guide to data protection principles, legal bases, and operational practice for humanitarian organizations.
- Licence/terms: ICRC publication; check publisher page for reuse terms.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
- Publisher: UNESCO
- Date: Adopted November 2021 (General Conference, 41st session)
- URL: https://www.unesco.org/en/artificial-intelligence/recommendation-ethics
- Summary: Global normative framework covering human rights, fairness, transparency, accountability, and environmental sustainability in AI systems.
- Licence/terms: UNESCO document; check publisher page for reuse terms.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Directive on Automated Decision-Making
- Publisher: Government of Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
- Edition: Policy instrument (Treasury Board policy); check publisher page for latest amendment date
- URL: https://www.tbs-sct.canada.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32592
- Summary: Requirements for federal automated decision systems including impact assessments, transparency, and human review.
- Scope: This Directive binds Canadian federal institutions. It is useful context for NGOs and other non-federal organizations but is not a legal obligation on them unless their own policies adopt it.
- Licence/terms: Government of Canada Open Government Licence (verify on page).
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Humanitarian AI governance
ICRC Policy on Artificial Intelligence
- Title: Building a Responsible Humanitarian Approach: The ICRC’s Policy on Artificial Intelligence
- Publisher: ICRC
- Date: 2024 (publication page)
- URL: https://www.icrc.org/en/publication/building-responsible-humanitarian-approach-icrcs-policy-artificial-intelligence
- Summary: ICRC commitments on responsible AI use, including human control, data protection, and partnership with affected communities.
- Licence/terms: ICRC publication.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
UNHCR AI Approach
- Title: UNHCR AI Approach
- Publisher: UNHCR
- Date: September 2025 (document title on PDF)
- URL: https://www.unhcr.org/digitalstrategy/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2025/09/UNHCR-AI-Approach-Sept25-Final.pdf (PDF; landing page: https://www.unhcr.org/digitalstrategy/)
- Summary: UNHCR principles for AI including accountability, inclusion, and oversight in refugee and protection contexts.
- Licence/terms: UNHCR publication.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
IFRC Policy on the Protection of Personal Data
- Publisher: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- Version: 1.0, 25 March 2019
- URL: https://www.ifrc.org/sites/default/files/249_e_v100_IFRC-Data-Protection-Policy.pdf (PDF; page: https://www.ifrc.org/document/IFRC-Data-Protection-Policy)
- Summary: Data protection framework for National Societies and partners.
- Licence/terms: IFRC document.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Canadian privacy and accessibility context
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
- Publisher: Government of Canada
- Date: Act in force 2001; amendments as listed on publisher page
- URL: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/
- Summary: Federal private-sector privacy law relevant to many Canadian NGOs. Use with organizational counsel for Quebec and provincial rules.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Accessible Canada Act
- Publisher: Government of Canada
- Date: Royal assent 21 June 2019
- URL: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/accessible-canada.html
- Summary: Federal accessibility requirements for organizations under federal jurisdiction; useful benchmark for inclusive learning design.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
- Publisher: Government of Ontario
- Date: 2005 (check publisher page for current standards dates)
- URL: https://www.ontario.ca/page/about-accessibility-laws
- Summary: Ontario accessibility standards; relevant for Ontario-based participants and partners.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Principles for responsible, trustworthy and privacy-protective generative AI technologies
- Publisher: Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (with provincial counterparts)
- Date: Published 7 December 2023 (publisher page)
- URL: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/technology/artificial-intelligence/gd_principles_ai
- Summary: Joint principles on lawful basis, accountability, transparency, and human oversight for generative AI.
- Licence/terms: Government of Canada.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Quality and accountability
Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability
- Publishers: CHS Alliance, Groupe URD, Sphere
- Edition: 2024
- URL: https://www.corehumanitarianstandard.org/the-standard
- Summary: Nine commitments including participation, feedback, and complaints handling. Used as an accountability lens, not certification.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
- Publisher: ICRC
- Date: Principles adopted 1965 (publisher page)
- URL: https://www.icrc.org/en/our-fundamental-principles
- Summary: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Learning and ethics resources
SAFE AI: Standards and Assurance for Ethical AI
- Publishers: CDAC Network, The Alan Turing Institute, Humanitarian AI Advisory (stewarded by CDAC Network)
- Version: 1.2, August 2026
- URL: https://www.cdacnetwork.org/safe-ai
- Summary: Tiered governance framework for ethical AI in humanitarian action. This kit includes a training-only crosswalk in the AI use decision guide; it is not part of SAFE AI and is not endorsed by its authors.
- Licence/terms: CC BY 4.0
- Accessed: 2026-09-30
Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Evaluation
- Authors: Kirkpatrick, J. D., & Kirkpatrick, W. K.
- Publisher: ATD Press
- Date: 2016
- URL: https://www.td.org/product/book–kirkpatricks-four-levels-of-training-evaluation/111614
- Summary: Framework for reaction, learning, behaviour, and results evaluation. This kit names levels 1 to 3 in assessment tools; level 4 is outside the kit’s scope.
- Accessed: 2026-09-30
Ethical AI Use and Decision-Making in Humanitarian Work
- Publisher: Humanitarian Leadership Academy
- Date: May 2026 (publisher page)
- URL: https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/resources/ethical-ai-use-and-decision-making-in-humanitarian-work-a-microlearning-guide-and-course/
- Summary: Short ethical decision practice. Complements but does not replace this curriculum.
- Accessed: 2026-09-29
Themes and sources
Each theme maps to sources listed above. Every source in this list was checked against its publisher on 2026-09-29.
| Theme | Sources (listed above) | Use in this kit |
|---|---|---|
| Data responsibility in crises | IASC Operational Guidance (2023); OCHA Data Responsibility Guidelines (January 2025); ICRC Handbook on Data Protection in Humanitarian Action, 3rd ed. (2024) | Sessions 1 to 3; case studies |
| AI risks to affected populations | ICRC Policy on Artificial Intelligence (2024); UNHCR AI Approach (September 2025); UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021) | Session 1 protection lens |
| Verification and privacy in generative AI use | Principles for responsible, trustworthy and privacy-protective generative AI technologies (December 2023) | Session 2 source checking |
| Organizational adoption | ICRC Policy on Artificial Intelligence (2024); UNHCR AI Approach (September 2025); Directive on Automated Decision-Making (Canadian federal context) | Session 3 pilot charter |
Note: Literature on AI in humanitarian action is evolving quickly. Verify dates and editions before citing in your own materials.
How to cite this kit
ParalleX Labs Inc. (2026). Humanitarian AI Training Kit. https://github.com/parallexlabs/humanitarian-ai-training-kit (or your fork URL). Content CC BY 4.0.