Documenter for a Ukrainian NGO partner organization
Skills
Captures evidence first-hand – in the form of mobile media, testimonials, and/or primary source research – and inputs this information into a larger body or collection of evidence.
Base Location
Kharkiv
Nadia is a documenter with a Ukrainian NGO partner organization.
Nadia is based in Kharkiv and travels throughout eastern Ukraine to conduct her work.
Nadia uses an iPhone to capture and share evidence.
She communicates with sources, and sends sensitive information, through both secure and insecure messaging apps. She stores information and evidence on corporate cloud storage platforms.
While in the office or at home, Nadia prefers to use WiFi for security and connectivity/speed reasons. While working in conflict zones, Nadia prefers to use mobile data, if available, because it is more secure.
Nadia's Case Summary
Tasks
Documenting war crimes
Collecting evidence of human rights abuses in various conflict-zone contexts
Adding evidentiary documentation to a collaborative, secure database
Goals and Motivations
Amplifying the voices and realities of Ukrainian citizens to advance accountability and justice
Environment
Kharkiv region
Outdoors in conflict zones (streets, civilian infrastructure, neighborhoods, etc.)
Indoors in conflict zones (detention centers, bunkers, etc.)
Office/home in Kharkiv
Needs
More comprehensive information and communication regarding attacks and hostilities
Technical training for team to streamline workflows and reduce risk of losing or compromising information
Pain points
Nadia has intermittent internet access as internet is often cut off during electricity outages in the region
In her work, Nadia faces physical danger, power/internet outages, occasional threats from authorities
Inconsistent technical capacities and vocabularies among team
Incomplete information regarding attacks and hostilities
Bureaucracy from local authorities
Solutions
Comprehensive technical trainings for team
Workflow tools that are not dependent on internet connection
