Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research at York University in Toronto launches new data analytics technology to improve access to safe water in refugee camps

LONDON, Dec. 2, 2020 — Researchers at York University’s Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, in partnership with Médecins sans Frontières (MSF/Doctors Without Borders), have launched the Safe Water Optimization Tool (SWOT). This web-based platform represents the first concrete use of artificial intelligence to improve safe water access in humanitarian settings.

A Groundbreaking Solution for Clean Water

SWOT helps aid workers ensure drinking water is safe in refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. It is currently used in camps across Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Tanzania.

“SWOT uses local data to determine how water should be treated based on site-specific conditions,” explains Syed Imran Ali, founder and lead of the project. “It’s a game-changer. Instead of relying on generic guidelines, we now receive evidence-based, location-specific treatment recommendations.”

Addressing Deadly Waterborne Diseases

Diseases like cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis E remain top threats in displacement camps. These illnesses are among the leading causes of preventable deaths. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers emphasize that tools like SWOT help prevent additional healthcare crises by supporting clean water delivery.

Built on Years of Field Research

SWOT builds on over five years of research in camps across South Sudan, Jordan, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Bangladesh. Teams from York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and School of Global Health worked together to develop the tool.

Safe Water as a First Line of Defense

James Orbinski, Director of the Dahdaleh Institute, underscores the importance of water in health protection:
“One of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is through water, sanitation, and hygiene,” he says. “In the Global North, we assume water is safe. In refugee camps, that assumption doesn’t hold. Contaminated water can spread disease. SWOT offers a clear, data-driven solution to ensure water is safe.”

A Legacy of Impact

Founded in 2015, the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research operates with support from the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Foundation. The endowment, the largest donation by a York University alumnus, continues to fund impactful global health initiatives.

The Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, home to the highest calibre of global health research with real-world impact, was founded in 2015 at York through an endowment from the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Foundation. The donation is the largest by an alumnus in the university’s history.

For more detailed information on the SWOT tool visit the York University website here

For more information on the Victor Dahdaleh Foundation visit its website here or contact Matthew Moth on: matthew.moth@madano.com or on mobile: +44 (0) 7770 381 263.