AI for Humanity: Transforming Refugee Protection with Technology

Dr. Ted Dunstone

A Vision for the Future of Refugee Protection
Leveraging AI to enhance efficiency, ensure fairness, and save lives.


Aligning with your mission to provide sustainable solutions through technology and engineering.

The Global Challenge

Refugees at Risk:

  • Unprecedented Asylum Movements
    Refugees arriving in Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and beyond face systemic barriers.

Critical Gaps in Current Systems:

  • Limited Legal Frameworks:
    Most PICs (e.g., Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu) lack refugee-specific laws or systems.
    Similar challenges exist in many of the 103 countries in your portfolio.

  • Complexity and Volume:
    Humanitarian workers are overwhelmed by the complexity of cases, requiring advanced tools for support.

  • Life-Altering Decisions:
    Refugee status determination must be accurate, swift, and consistent.

Opportunity for Transformation

Introducing AI-Assisted Refugee Processing:

  • Scalable: Tools for use in PICs initially, expanding globally to all UNHCR activities.
  • Efficient: Reduce time-intensive tasks, enabling staff to focus on high-value decisions.
  • Secure: On-premises AI infrastructure safeguards sensitive data.

A Comprehensive AI-Assisted Platform

Key Features:

  1. Registration and Early Processing:

    • Augment biometric identification for accuracy and speed.
    • AI-assisted document translation and form completion.

  2. Refugee Status Determination (RSD):

    • Real-time interview support with AI-aided question prompts.
    • Comparison against country-of-origin data and refugee standards.
    • Draft assessments for human validation.

  3. Resettlement Optimization:

    • Automated preparation of resettlement documents.
    • Prioritization of cases for scarce resettlement slots.
    • Tailored plans for integration in host countries.

  4. Global Scalability:

    • Pilot in PICs such as Fiji, PNG, and Nauru, then expand to other UNHCR operations.
    • Adaptable to diverse regional contexts globally.

Why This Matters

For Refugees:

  • Faster Protection: Streamlined processes reduce delays.
  • Fairer Outcomes: Transparent and consistent decisions safeguard human rights.

For UNHCR and Host Countries:

  • Enhanced Capacity: Leverage AI to manage caseloads efficiently.
  • Global Impact: Scalable solutions for over 50% of the world's countries, amplifying Steele Foundation's mission.

Why AI, Why Now?

  1. Global Reach of Steele Foundation:
    AI aligns with your expertise in technology and engineering to address complex challenges across borders.

  2. Urgent Need:
    Refugee numbers are rising, requiring scalable solutions that enhance outcomes without additional strain on resources.

  3. Ethical Framework:
    Human-in-the-loop AI ensures fairness, with oversight at every stage.

Rough Costings

Steele Foundation Partnership

Investment Target: $4.5M

  • AI Development: $2.5M
  • Infrastructure: $1.2M
  • Training and Monitoring: $800K

Your support enables pilot implementation in PICs, followed by scaling across all UNHCR regions.

Proposed Next Steps

  1. Proposal for Funding:

    • Develop secure AI infrastructure.
    • Initiate pilot in Fiji, PNG, and Nauru.

  2. Global Expansion:

    • Gradual rollout to all UNHCR operations.
    • Tailor solutions to regional contexts.

  3. Long-Term Monitoring and Growth:

    • Evaluate outcomes, refine systems, and expand capabilities.

Why Steele Foundation?

Your global footprint and commitment to sustainable impact make you the ideal partner:

  • Leadership in applying technology for humanity.
  • Expertise in providing essential services to underserved populations.

There is an opportunity to transform the refugee protection system worldwide.

Let's Build a Better Future

Join Us.
Shape the future of refugee processing with AI-driven innovation.

Contact:
Dr. Ted Dunstone
ted@biometix.com | +61 419990968