Applying digital technologies in refugee contexts. Lessons learned from community engagement in Al Baqa’ refugee camp, Jordan

Human displacement is a growing global phenomenon, predominantly concentrated in developing regions such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This trend has led to the proliferation of informal settlements, including refugee camps. Al Baqa’, is an example of the dynamic evolution in displacement contexts due to high migration flows: it has changed from a refugee camp to an informal city, impacting strongly on the urban infrastructure and thus on the quality of life of the population. The overcrowding of the water supply system is one of the biggest problems faced by the people today. Present research aims to demonstrate how digital technologies and participatory methodologies can bridge data gaps and support end-user responses by developing an interactive ‘3D water survey’. The novelty is based on a bottom-up methodological approach that integrates the community into the decision-making process with the final goal of testing if the 3D app can effectively address water problems in disadvantaged communities and, if not, what alternatives could be improved. Findings illustrate the transformative impact of end-user involvement in refining the 3D app's features, usability, and alignment with the specific community's needs ensuring adaptable solutions instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. • Digital technologies and bottom-up methodologies effectively fill data gaps in disadvantaged communities. • Overcrowded water supply systems refugee camps challenge residents' access to essential services impacting directly in their quality of life • Community involvement directly impacts on the refinement of the 3D application's functionality, ease of use, and relevance to the needs of the community. • Pilot testing ensured the app's reliability, while triangulated analysis methods validated its effectiveness through community feedback.