Article by Thomas Petracek, 02.11.2026
Three days of learning, exchange, and practical exploration brought together ADRA professionals, university professors, and students to discover how artificial intelligence (AI) can support humanitarian and development work.
In late October 2026, ADRA conducted its first AI training on the campus of Friedensau Adventist University in Germany. The three-day programme received very positive feedback from participants and provided a valuable opportunity to explore new concepts, exchange experiences, and apply knowledge in practice.
A key strength of the training was its combination of practical applications and ethical considerations. Participants explored how AI can support their daily work while discussing important issues such as responsible use, bias, data protection, privacy, and the wider implications of AI in humanitarian and development work.
The programme also introduced digital tools and systems relevant to ADRA’s work including Logalto project management software, Nextcloud as cloud and a broader scope of other software solutions for the global ADRA network, highlighting the importance of effective data management and information sharing across the organisation.
A particular highlight was the introduction of an ADRA hosted AI that keeps data internal, presenting new opportunities to use artificial intelligence with greater confidence and trust in everyday work. This initiative represents an important step towards making artificial intelligence more accessible, secure, and relevant to ADRA’s everyday work.
Francois AuClair explained complex technical topics in an accessible way, while Jessica Villareal facilitated valuable discussions on AI ethics. Their flexibility in adapting the programme to participants’ needs encouraged active engagement and made the sessions particularly relevant.
The cooperation with Friedensau University, involving several professors and advanced students, was especially valuable and opened opportunities for future knowledge exchange. Similar initiatives at other Seventh-day Adventist universities could also be considered.
The training highlighted the importance of involving ADRA country offices more broadly. AI skills are relevant across all departments, not just leadership, programme, marketing or IT teams. Future training should therefore be accessible to staff from all areas of ADRA’s work. Establishing AI focal points in country offices could further support this development.
The initiative provides an important foundation for future AI capacity-building across the network. Special thanks go to the ADRA International IT team and the ADRA Europe Office for making this training possible.
Looking ahead, AI offers opportunities to strengthen the way ADRA works and serves communities. However, we must also recognize its limitations and risks, including reliability, bias, data privacy, misinformation, and potential misuse. AI should support, not replace, human judgement, empathy, and personal relationships, which remain at the heart of humanitarian work.
For ADRA, embracing AI means combining curiosity and innovation with critical thinking and responsibility. The goal is not to adopt every new technology without question, but to use it wisely in support of our mission. Innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility, and technological progress must always remain centred on people.
