UNHCR is committed to improve its digital services to better meet your needs. We would like to learn more about your digital habits, preferences, and the challenges you face online. This will help us create better and more effective support for you and your community.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. Read more on www.unhcr.org.
Improving digital services for displaced communities
From your first arrival in a new country to settling down, you rely on many digital services. You search for information online, gain access to essential services, reach out to helplines, and join online communities for support and connection.
However, these digital spaces can also present challenges. Navigating unfamiliar systems, facing language barriers, and protecting your privacy online are just a few of the obstacles you might encounter. That’s why it’s so important for us to understand your digital habits and needs. By learning from your experiences, we can create better and more effective support systems tailored to you and your community.
Your feedback helps us identify what works, what doesn’t, and where the gaps are. This way, we can ensure that our services are accessible, user-friendly, and truly helpful throughout every stage of your journey.
Have you been contacted by UNHCR?
UNHCR is conducting Key Informant Interviews to better understand the digital engagement of refugees and gather insights on the monitoring of online channels relevant to refugees.
If you are active in online refugee communities on platforms like Telegram and Facebook, you might have been contacted by UNHCR via a private message and invited to participate in an online interview. Here is how the process works:
- On Telegram, we reach out to you from our profile, @marton_elodi. On Facebook, we will send a similar direct message.
- Once contacted, the message will introduce the project and invite you to participate in an anonymous interview. To verify the authenticity of the contact, we will offer to send a follow-up email from our official UNHCR address, ending in @unhcr.org.
- In the email, we will propose time slots for a 60-minute online meeting, which can be conducted in Ukrainian, English, or Hungarian. We will also address any questions you might have about the project or the interview process.
- The interview will be conducted via an online call at the agreed time. Throughout the project, we ensure respect for your privacy and confidentiality, and we will clearly explain the purpose of the research and how your responses will be used.
If you would like to participate in the interview, you can apply in this form.
You are free to pause or stop the process at any time if you feel uncomfortable or prefer not to continue. Your participation is completely voluntary, and we respect your decision at every step.
Participate in our group sessions
Join our focus group discussions to share your experiences and ideas. These sessions are a safe space for you to talk about your digital journey and provide valuable feedback that will shape the future of our services.
In our group discussions, we will cover key topics to enhance digital services for refugees. We’ll discuss how you accessed information and services when you arrived, the platforms you used, and how your preferences have evolved. We’ll explore your participation in online communities, the usefulness of these platforms, and your trust in the information shared.
We’ll also address any negative online experiences, such as scams or hate speech, and discuss safety measures. Additionally, we’ll review your interactions with humanitarian organisations and how to improve these. Finally, we’ll talk about your views on the monitoring of online channels by these organisations, balancing benefits with privacy concerns.
The group sessions are currently under organisation, and we will reach out to our relevant partners to collaborate. If you would like to be part of this activity, please, reach out to us on the contact details below.
More information and contact
For any questions or to get involved with the project, please reach out to Márton Elődi (Digital Expert @ UNHCR Hungary), at [email protected].
