In this interview with Emma Cherniavsky, Chief Executive Officer at UK for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Emma discusses the organisation’s mission to rally public support for refugees and explores how digitalisation is transforming data analysis, donor engagement, and storytelling. In particular she spotlights the “Teach AI” campaign, which encouraged the public to select more positive and empowering images to improve AI-generated representations of refugees.
Emma Cherniavsky 0:08
I’m Emma Cherniavsky, I’m the CEO of UK for UNHCR. We’re the national charity partner for the UN refugee agency here in the United Kingdom, and our mission is to mobilise the public and to build partnerships in the UK for people who want to support refugees, and the work that UNHCR does to assist and protect refugees around the world.
Global Philanthropic 0:33
Very important work, especially at the moment so I imagine you must be a very busy woman. What does digitalisation mean to you and your organisation?
Emma Cherniavsky 0:43
So for us, it’s really meant an acceleration of what’s possible around data and analysis and really being able to deliver tailored journeys for donors. And to be able to build content in a way that is very customised, but also being able to bring stories from the field directly and to enable refugees to share their own stories with us from the ground, and also through a storytelling program that we have. I think, looking ahead to the role of AI and where that’s going, I think a lot of charities like mine are just now wrapping their heads around what’s possible using AI and deploying AI in terms of content generation, in terms of data and insights. And it’s really useful to have the opportunity to hear from some experts this evening and understand better how we can use AI in a way that is ethical and in a way that is transparent and stays true to our values as a charity.
Global Philanthropic 1:56
Just jumping off script here a minute, if that’s okay with you. What’s one example of a story that you have shared that has done really well, that really created a huge amount of impact through the digital space?
Emma Cherniavsky 2:11
Earlier this year, we launched a campaign called Teach AI and we discovered that a lot of AI, when you ask for images of refugees, you are served images that are quite dehumanising and quite disempowered. And so we invited members of the public here in the UK to engage in choosing images about refugees that were more positive, that were more empowering. And through that campaign, we’ve been able to generate engagement and help engage with AI and technology companies to make sure that the images and the content that AI is sharing about refugees is more true to life.
Global Philanthropic 3:05
How important is digitalisation for the philanthropic space?
Emma Cherniavsky 3:11
I think digitalisation is critical for the philanthropic space. I think what’s challenging again, for charities and for individuals, is to really understand and keep pace with with the changes.
Global Philanthropic 3:31
Thank you. And what is your impression of Global Philanthropic?
Emma Cherniavsky 3:36
So I’ve known Global Philanthropic for a number of years in many different capacities. And I think tonight’s event really reminded me that Global Philanthropic has always been really master and genius at the storytelling. And I think ultimately you can have lots of digital technology, you can have AI, you can have many ways that data and technology can assist your work in philanthropy. But at the end of the day, what really makes a difference in philanthropy and for charities is the storytelling piece. And I’ve found tonight’s stories from Lady Edwina Grosvenor and from Geoff Holt and about the film about the great walk in India on behalf of women, incredibly powerful and moving. And I think while AI will in the future play a role, and a very important role in terms of data and in terms of content generation, I think that storytelling piece, and also when it comes to strategy, when it comes to analysis, that is still something that we will continue to rely on individuals for that. It’s going to be really interesting moving forward to see how that human piece, that storytelling piece, interacts with what AI is going to make possible in the future. And I think we’re still really at the beginning of what that journey will do for philanthropy and for charities.
Global Philanthropic 5:18
Thank you. That’s really kind of you. Sort of building on that a little bit, what was your highlight of the evening?
Emma Cherniavsky 5:25
I think for me, the highlight was, was really hearing from two founders who have built their impact and their journey in terms of philanthropy and making a difference in the life of others. So hearing from Lady Edwina about her journey, starting in a relatively privileged life, but from a very early point, developing a passion around prisons and how to bring her expertise and her influence to make a difference and deciding that women and how to help women offenders and create a journey for them that would be focused on rehabilitation and around community work, as opposed to incarceration, is an incredibly powerful illustration of how someone can use their influence and their expertise and their resources to make a difference in the life of others and to really, genuinely be involved in shaping that. I think, also hearing from Geoff Holt and his incredible journey to building a charity that would enable people with a disability to experience the joy and the power of being on a boat, being on the sea, and being able to really be liberated through that experience. It’s just it’s a very, very powerful story, and to see that he’s on this journey now around the UK, he’s had a long day, and yet he chose to spend part of his evening with us, sharing and inspiring us with his journey and with his determination and his commitment to helping others.
Global Philanthropic 7:29
Thank you so much.