Till Trojer, AI Officer at HEKS/EPER (Swiss Church Aid), joins Humanitarian AI Today guest host Rory Crew, Technical Advisor on Data and Digitalization with the CALP Network which works on increasing the quality, quantity, and impact of humanitarian cash and voucher assistance, to discuss how mid-sized aid organizations are developing and implementing their AI strategies, and the impact of the aid funding crisis on the sector.

Till's role at HEKS/EPER involves helping the organization use AI responsibly, building trust, and ensuring ethical standards by understanding the context and listening to the concerns and needs of teams. Till provided insights into HEKS/EPER’s AI approach, explaining how AI is integrated into their broader digital transformation strategy rather than being treated as a separate entity. He also shared his views on AI as a catalyst for deeper discussions about existing systems, infrastructure, and data hosting dependencies, prompting a critical re-evaluation of reliance on big tech companies.

Rory highlighted the timely nature of the conversation, as both cash assistance and AI offer the potential for greater efficiency—a desperate need for the sector amidst calls to do more with less. Both guests emphasized the importance of ensuring that AI solutions are grounded in the communities they serve and avoid the "graveyard of humanitarian pilots" by planning for sustainability and community buy-in from the outset. Ultimately, their vision for futuristic AI centers on systems that prioritize ethics, accountability, and empowerment, refusing unethical tasks and ensuring that communities remain in the driving seat of their own development.