Humaanit

Humaanit is a term used in discussions of ethical design and humanitarian technology to describe an approach that foregrounds human welfare, dignity, and agency in the development and deployment of digital systems and automated services. It is applied across sectors such as health care, disaster response, civic tech, and development projects.

Its core principles typically include human dignity, autonomy, non-discrimination, privacy, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.

Practices associated with Humaanit emphasize participatory design with end users and affected communities; human-in-the-loop oversight; ongoing impact assessment; and mechanisms for redress and feedback. Teams often employ ethical review processes alongside technical evaluation.

Implementation has occurred in humanitarian aid platforms, public-sector digital services, and research projects that seek to avoid harm in AI, data collection, and automated decision making.

Critics argue that Humaanit can be vague or aspirational, risking vague compliance or slowing innovation. Proponents counter that it provides concrete guardrails to protect vulnerable populations and align technology with shared human values.

Related concepts include human-centered design, humanitarian technology, and AI ethics.