Digital transformation and contested sovereignty in humanitarian action

Humanitarian organizations are increasingly integrating digital technologies and data infrastructures into their operations. While this transformation is often presented as a pathway to efficiency and innovation, it carries significant political implications for authority, accountability, and sovereignty in conflict-affected contexts. This study examines these dynamics through a mixed-methods design combining content analysis of organizational strategy documents with a sector-wide survey of aid professionals. It argues that digital transformation in humanitarian action is not a technical upgrade but a reordering of governance that demands renewed attention to sovereignty, accountability, and humanitarian principles. The content analysis reveals a persistent emphasis on digital efficiency within institutional strategies, alongside limited engagement with governance and sovereignty concerns. Survey findings show growing awareness among aid workers of ethical risks, cybersecurity threats, and dependence on private technology providers, with the ICRC standing out for its explicit recognition of digital sovereignty and cyber vulnerability. The results demonstrate that digital transformation reorders authority relations, embedding humanitarian action within hybrid infrastructures that transcend national oversight.