Mobile networks now cover the vast majority of the world’s population, generating data that can help humanitarian actors better understand population movements, emerging needs, and the evolving impacts of crises in near real time. Mobile Data for Humanitarian Action: Pathways to Sustained and Responsible Use examines how mobile network data can be leveraged responsibly to strengthen humanitarian preparedness, response, and recovery efforts while safeguarding privacy, trust, and ethical standards.

Drawing on lessons from the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian (M4H) programme and collaborations between mobile network operators, humanitarian organizations, governments, and research partners, the report explores the technical, governance, operational, and partnership conditions needed to enable the sustained use of mobile data for public good. It highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling data-driven humanitarian action and provides practical insights for building responsible, effective, and long-term data-sharing ecosystems capable of supporting crisis response and resilience efforts worldwide.