How three frontier technologies are transforming humanitarian aid supply chains
A blog by Kelley Rowe, a Frontier Tech Coach
This is the first of two blogs diving into the opportunities and challenges across humanitarian supply chains, ahead of an exclusive event on October 2nd.
The global demand for humanitarian aid is surging. UNOCHA has announced that over 308 million people are expected to need assistance by 2024 and traditional supply chains are struggling to keep up. The pressure is mounting to deliver aid faster, smarter, and more efficiently has never been greater.
There’s news to be optimistic about though: Frontier technologies—including blockchain, IoT, and UAVs—are stepping in to transform how aid is delivered, making supply chains more transparent, agile, and efficient. However, while these technologies hold tremendous promise, scaling them globally is not without challenges. Infrastructure limitations, local capacity, and regulatory barriers are just some of the hurdles that must be overcome to unlock their full potential.
Critically, the success of these innovations lies not in the technology alone but in how they are integrated into existing supply chain systems to create scalable and adaptive solutions.
This is the first of two blogs exploring how frontier technologies are transforming humanitarian aid delivery, and the barriers that still need to be addressed.
The power of blockchain: building trust and accountability
One of the biggest challenges in humanitarian supply chains is transparency. How do we know where resources are going? How can we track them in real time? Blockchain technology is providing the answer by offering tamper-proof, real-time tracking of aid supplies, improving visibility and accountability.
For example, the Humanitarian Supplies on Blockchain pilot tracked goods shipped from Pakistan to Dubai. By integrating blockchain with satellite-enabled networks, this pilot allowed multiple organisations to collaborate seamlessly, ensuring that each item was tracked and accounted for at every stage.
However, blockchain isn’t a one-size-fits-all-solution. While it can help build trust and transparency, it also shifts the need for trust to the technology itself, particularly from stakeholders whose collaboration would be needed to scale. This can add complexity and cost if not carefully implemented. As noted by Paul Currion from Disberse, who worked on another FT pilot using blockchain "Over [the] years we became increasingly sceptical about most of the use cases we heard being proposed for blockchain in aid."
The key takeaway?
To truly unlock its potential, blockchain must be deployed where it will create real value. It has the potential to transform supply chains, but like all technologies, it must be carefully evaluated to ensure it delivers real benefits for the specific challenges at hand without introducing new ones.
IoT: revolutionising real-time tracking
One of the biggest challenges in humanitarian supply chains is maintaining visibility over aid deliveries, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Tracking aid packages across challenging environments can be a logistical nightmare. However GeoSeals - an IoT-enabled solution funded by the Frontier Tech Hub - is offering a breakthrough track and trace solution.
Currently being piloted in Ethiopia, GeoSeals provides real-time tracking of aid packages across multiple distribution points. These low-cost, solar-powered, IoT-enabled devices offer automated updates on the location and status of shipments without manual intervention, reducing delays and improving transparency across supply chains. By detecting when and where packages are opened, using embedded Bluetooth devices and RFID tags, GeoSeals also empowers local actors to autonomously monitor the integrity of aid deliveries.
GeoSeals is transforming not just visibility but also empowering local stakeholders to ensure aid is delivered efficiently and without delay. With promising early results, GeoSeals has the potential to scale globally, especially in regions where supply chain transparency is critical.
Beyond GeoSeals, IoT technology is proving its value across various supply chain applications by providing real-time data on stock levels, transportation routes, and environmental conditions. However, its true value doesn’t come from the sensors alone but from how well they integrate with existing supply chain systems, enabling smarter, more efficient operations.
An example of this is the IoT for Water Quality pilot in Jordan, which deployed sensors to monitor water quality in refugee camps in 2020. By connecting sensors to water trucks to automatically log the occurrence of water flow, the data was uploaded to a cloud-based database at the end of each day. While this pilot successfully demonstrated how IoT can improve the visibility of water deliveries and track water quality, it also revealed key challenges to scaling - most notably, a lack of local supply chain integration and manufacturing capabilities. This is an insight which GeoSeals have taken note of as they now prepare to scale.
The key takeaway?
IoT is a powerful enabler of supply chain transparency, but it must be embedded within well-coordinated local and global supply chain networks. To scale effectively, IoT solutions must be integrated into existing systems, supported by local infrastructure investment, and designed to complement broader locally-led decision-making processes. Only then can it unlock its full potential in transforming humanitarian supply chains.
UAVs: solving the last-mile delivery challenge
One of the hardest parts of delivering humanitarian aid is getting it to remote areas where infrastructure is weak or non-existent. UAVs (drones) are stepping in to solve this last-mile delivery challenge by bypassing traditional barriers like poor roads or limited access.
In Malawi, the Precision Drop UAV pilot, completed four trials, delivering over 1,900 medical deliveries including 50,000 doses of HIV antiretroviral medicines and over 12,000 other vaccines. The programme expanded to serve 38 clinics, significantly improving access to underserved regions. Drone initiatives like these are proving to be scalable solutions, especially in regions where traditional transportation infrastructure is unreliable.
Meanwhile, in Rwanda, Zipline’s UAV programme reduced blood delivery times by 80%, demonstrating how drones are not just overcoming challenges but creating entirely new pathways for rapid aid delivery.
A recent Frontier Tech Hub pilot in Nepal is also exploring how drones can enhance healthcare access in difficult to reach areas. The Flying Medicines over mountains pilot is designed to integrate UAVs into the Nepali health system to deliver essential maternal and child health medicines to rural, mountainous regions. By collaborating with local communities, health workers, technology partners, and the government, the pilot focuses on local ownership while ensuring that emergency and life-saving drugs and vaccines reach the most marginalised populations.
The key takeaway?
UAVs are transforming the way humanitarian aid is delivered to remote areas, but like all technologies, they must be implemented with a focus on local capacity and infrastructure. These examples show that UAVs have the potential to scale globally, but their success depends on careful planning and collaboration with local actors to ensure long-term sustainability.
Empowering communities through technology
At the heart of these innovations is the power to empower local stakeholders and communities. By providing local actors with the tools and data they need to manage their own supply chains, frontier technologies are creating self-sustaining, resilient systems that adapt to changing needs.
Blockchain, IoT, and UAVs aren’t just improving how aid is delivered - they’re democratising technology, allowing local communities to take control of their resources. By decentralising decision-making, these tools ensure that communities can respond quickly and effectively to crises.
The future of humanitarian aid lies in these frontier technologies, which, when scaled through collaborative ecosystems, will build a more transparent, efficient, and resilient global aid system.
Next: Overcoming barriers to scaling frontier technologies
As the demand for humanitarian aid continues to rise, the Frontier Tech Hub is at the forefront of integrating these innovative technologies into real-world solutions.
But while these technologies are proving their value, scaling them globally presents unique challenges. However, these challenges are also opportunities for innovation and collaboration:
Infrastructure gaps: In many regions, poor infrastructure hinders technology deployment. However, decentralised solutions like Geo-Seals solar-powered IoT sensors, combined with advancements in satellite connectivity solutions have been proven to thrive even in low-resource environments.
Local capacity building: Technology is only as powerful as the people who use it. In Malawi, six local pilots and over 70 district health staff were trained to send and receive medical cargo via UAVs as part of the Precision Drop UAV pilot, enabling the programme to scale without external dependency.
Regulatory hurdles: In Rwanda, Zipline’s success was driven in part by progressive airspace regulations, allowing UAVs to operate freely. By fostering collaborative regulation, frontier technologies can scale while remaining compliant with local laws.
With the potential to scale globally and empower communities, frontier technologies are not just transforming supply chains - they are reshaping the future of humanitarian aid. We’ll explore these challenges and opportunities in the second part of this blog series.
Interested in learning more?
We're hosting a special event showcasing how frontier technologies like GeoSeals are transforming humanitarian aid.
🗓️ Wednesday 2nd October, 2pm UK time
📍 Online: a Teams link will be provided
🎬 Film screening, presentation and discussion
🎟 Free to attend. Reserve your ticket here.
About the author
Kelley Rowe is a strategic leader with over 16 years of experience in climate action, circular economy innovation, and sustainable livelihoods. As the Innovation Lead at Brink, Kelley focuses on leveraging technology to drive systemic change across sectors, including supply chain transformation. She has also been coaching the GeoSeals team via the Frontier Tech Hub for the past two years, supporting their efforts in humanitarian innovation. Kelley is an Innovation Coach and Advisor for OpenExO and a contributing author to Exponential Organisations 2.0, a leading guide on scaling impact and innovation.
