A New Portfolio of AI and Data Solutions for the Humanitarian Sector
In the humanitarian sector, our most valuable lessons are learned on the ground. Yet, these insights often remain isolated—locked in field offices, buried in reports, or confined to individual experience. Restrictive agency policies can discourage sharing, leaving many of us to reinvent tools that we know must already exist.
I have worked over fourteen years on short-term rapid onset emergencies such as Haiti, Niger or The Philippines as in long-term deployments in the DRC, South Sudan, and now Ukraine, I've seen this pattern firsthand. I believe we have too much to share to let that expertise stay siloed. That’s why I’ve launched my own web site last year. Today, I am upgrading significatly this platform: baena.ai— with the intend of contributing to the transformation of field challenges into practical, technology-driven solutions.
Rather than merely a list of projects. It’s a curated showcase of my work as a Humanitarian Data Analyst, demonstrating how I design and build custom AI, data analysis, and automation solutions tailored to the unique demands of aid work.
For those interested in the journey behind the solutions, I've created a separate space to share my process. While baena.ai showcases the finished, impactful products, my personal digital garden at baena.blog offers a look behind the curtain. It's where you can follow the building process for these tools, explore my thoughts-in-progress, and see the experiments that lead to field-ready technology.
The Humanitarian Assistant
An AI-Powered Copilot for Humanitarian Data Analysis and Decision-Making
The centerpiece of this launch is the upgraded Humanitarian Agent. After attracting users from across the sector and continents, its underlying technology has been modernized while preserving the powerful knowledge base that makes it so effective.
Specifically, there are huge technological improvements under the hood: a new stack based on the principles of resicielence, ownership, and privacy. The Humanitarian Agent now runs on a custom-built infrastructure that I control, ensuring data sovereignty and compliance with humanitarian data protection standards.
Additionally, new capabilities have been added to enhance its utility. The agent can now (aside of checking on its own knowledge base): do searches to solid sources, access and analyze exernal databases, such as ACAPS, ReliefWeb, or OCHA Financial Tracking Service, and connect to bespoke APIs and data sources that humanitarian organizations use in the field.
Other demos
Aside of the humantarian agent project, I have been working on several other AI and data analysis solutions for the humanitarian sector. Some of these include: a real-time dashboard for monitoring the jobs market in the humanitarian sector. A Web Map Server (WMS) for visualizing geospatial data related to humanitarian situation in Ukraine. And a data pipeline for automating the collection and analysis of humanitarian data from multiple sources.
These projects, along with the Humanitarian Agent, are now featured on baena.ai. Each solution is designed to address specific challenges faced by humanitarian workers, leveraging AI and data analysis to improve efficiency and decision-making in the field. The most fluid section is the one regarding static data analysis and visualization solutions, where I will be adding new projects on a regular basis.
What other content is coming?
I’m rolling out a steady stream of new resources that will help teams turn raw data into rapid, evidence‑based action, they are tools I am rescuying from my hard drives, and freshing up for wide dissemination. Roughly every month, I will be publishing a new demo or article that dives into a specific technology or use case relevant to humanitarian operations.
AI and Business Intelligence Solutions
Move beyond static reports to a dynamic decision-support environment. I build custom AI Agents that act as expert advisors for your team and interactive Business Intelligence dashboards that provide real-time operational clarity. This service transforms your raw data into a strategic asset, enabling your organization to make faster, more evidence-based decisions when it matters most.
Data Analysis and Impact Reporting
Fulfilling donor requirements and proving programmatic impact shouldn't be a bottleneck. I design robust data analysis pipelines that automate the entire process, from cleaning messy field data to generating compelling, visualized reports. This service provides you with the irrefutable evidence you need for accountability and saves your Monitoring & Evaluation team hundreds of valuable hours.
Business Process and Workflow Automation
Free your team from the drudgery of manual data entry and repetitive administrative tasks. I audit your key operational processes, identify bottlenecks, and build powerful automation systems that connect your existing tools into a seamless flow. This service gives your team back its most valuable resource—time—while reducing errors and dramatically improving overall efficiency.
Custom Web Application Development
When off-the-shelf software doesn't meet your unique operational needs, a custom solution is the answer. I provide end-to-end web application development, from initial concept to deployment and long-term support. With optional managed care, I ensure your bespoke tool remains secure and effective, allowing you to own a digital asset that is perfectly tailored to your workflow without the burden of ongoing maintenance.
Sector-Specific Capacity Building
Technology is only effective when people are empowered to use it. Drawing on my experience as a humanitarian leader, I design and deliver customized capacity-building programs—from hands-on workshops to one-on-one mentoring. This service ensures your team has the skills and confidence to embrace new tools, guaranteeing the long-term sustainability and impact of your digital transformation efforts.