TSF exists to protect people in crisis and humanitarian emergencies through communications and access to information. We work alongside NGOs from all over the world to help those in need.

The purpose of this newsletter that sits at the intersection of humanitarian action and telecommunication technology, is to provide you with pertinent curated content that will assist you with your work.

The Call to Comms will be in your inbox every Tuesday. We'd love to see you there!

Previous Issues of The Call to Comms

C2C#054: Two Years of Responding to the Ukrainian Crisis: Then and Now
How are communication and information needs evolving as the crisis in Ukraine continues?
C2C#053: Meet the Researcher Working on Humanitarian Participation & Tech
Centre for Humanitarian Action researcher Andrea Düchting gives an interview to Call to Comms on how humanitarian organizations can use digital technology to improve the participation of affected populations.
C2C#052: Women in Mexican Migrant Shelters Share Their Stories
Being a forcibly displaced woman, testimonials and the importance of information.
C2C#051: ‘Technology is Revolutionizing Our Cooperative’ in Madagascar
This week, find out more about TSF’s new digital inclusion project, and discover Lucile’s story of how she accessed digital training and uses it for her agricultural cooperative.
C2C#050: 4 Ways ICTs Can Help Deliver Humanitarian Supplies
How can ICTs improve the way help reaches the people who need it?
C2C#049: Meet Magdalena, Communicating With Communities in Poland
Magda, a TSF employee in Poland, explains how reliable information is useful to Ukrainian refugees, and how she makes sure she selects relevant information for people.
C2C#048: Free Software: A Tool To Help People
Why is free software important in humanitarian missions? How does TSF use it?
C2C#047: An overview of TSF Missions in 2023
For this final issue of 2023, The Call to Comms retraces TSF’s missions in 2023, from the earthquake in Turkey to the hurricane in Mexico.
C2C#046: What You Need to Know About the 2024 Global Humanitarian Overview
How will the humanitarian situation look in 2024? Also: an open position at TSF, and the latest news.
C2C#045: Meet Stefany, External Relations Officer at TSF
Find out first-hand from TSF staff what is involved in carrying out a humanitarian project across several countries.
C2C#044: TSF Mission Updates - Information Diffusion in Poland
Learn more about the situation in Poland for refugees today, how relevant information supports them, and the project’s latest advancements.
C2C#043: Meet Zacharie, Educator at TSF
Meet Zacharie, educator at the IT Cup Center in Madagascar. Also this week: Updates on the humanitarian crises in Gaza and in Sudan.
C2C#042: Why Do Cyclones Have Names?
Have you ever wondered why extreme weather events are named? Here’s a quick explanation. Also this week: Education During War, Online Disinformation, Climate Action and some recent news from our work in Ukraine.
C2C41: TSF Regional Manager Reflects on 15 Years of Missions
From Haiti in 2010 to Ukraine in 2022, learn about the experiences of TSF’s Regional Manager.
C2C#040: TSF’s Response to Hurricane Otis
Learn more about TSF emergency response to Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico. Also this week: updates on Armenia and Gaza.
C2C#039: How To Know What You Read Online Is Trustworthy
The situation in Gaza is everywhere on the Internet. Here’s a simple way to ensure that what you read is trustworthy. Also this week: a special focus on Gaza, 6 months of war in Sudan, and Capacity Europe.
C2C#038: World Disaster Risk Reduction Day
This newsletter explores the link between poverty, inequality and natural disasters, and shows how capacity building helps mitigate disaster risks.
C2C#037: Meet CartONG, the humanitarian mapping NGO
Meet CartONG, an NGO specialized in digital mapping and data management in the humanitarian sector.
C2C#036: 20 years of the Americas base
To celebrate the 20 years of the base, learn more about the evolution of TSF’s missions in Latin America.
C2C#035: Meet Alma Angelica, shelter manager in Mexico
Discover the insights of a shelter manager on the Information Diffusion Project in Latin America.
C2C#034: How do NGOs respond to natural disasters?
3 steps that NGOs take into account when responding to natural disasters, from the early days to the long term. Also: an interview with AT&T.
C2C#033: TSF On Site For the Moroccan Earthquake
TSF deployed following the earthquake in Morocco. Learn more about the disaster, and the work our team has started on-site.
C2C#032: Why Is Literacy Important in Humanitarian Crises?
Misinformation is dangerous for everyone, but for people in humanitarian crisis situations, the risks and stakes are often higher. How can literacy help?
C2C#031: Displaced and Disconnected
How can connectivity contribute to better lives for displaced people? Also this week: a pollution-monitoring instrument, ASEAN Disaster Management Week and a tool to help reduce global hunger.
C2C#030: 5 Things To Know About Technology in Education
What do we know so far about the role of technology in education? What is TSF doing to use technology for education in humanitarian crises? Also this week: Haitians’ resilience, the situation in Afghanistan, and LEO connectivity solutions.
C2C#029: World Humanitarian Day: A Day in An NGO
For World Humanitarian Day, follow us on a day in an international humanitarian NGO. Also this week: latest news, and updates from Ukraine.
C2C#028: Choosing the Right Tech for Emergency Connectivity
How does a technical NGO select equipment to provide emergency connectivity?
C2C#027: Community Resilience And Climate Change
Hurricane season is nearing its peak. To face storms exacerbated by climate change, preparedness is essential. Learn about TSF’s latest update on its mission in the Caribbean.
C2C#026: 25 years of TSF!
TSF celebrates 25 years of humanitarian action! Discover our photo campaign and insights from TSF’s co-founder and director.
C2C#025: Bridging the Digital Divide
What you need to know about the digital divide and why it matters for education.
C2C#024: Solidarity in times of war
A school director in Ukraine shares his experience of how his school has become a collective centre for displaced families, and how important internet access is for those staying there.
C2C#023: Satellite Orbits and Why They Matter for NGOs
Why the difference between satellite orbits matter more than you might think, and how they affect humanitarian action.
C2C#022: Read TSF Annual Report 2022
How did we work towards our vision in 2022? Discover all of TSF’s actions in 2022, with data, pictures and testimonies, in our new annual report.
C2C#021: Hope Away from Home: World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day: reconnecting with the world and fighting online misinformation. Also this week: struggle with an app at the US-Mexico border, and a deadly shipwreck off Greece.
C2C#020: How should NGOs talk about what they do?
How does an NGO use Oxfam’s inclusive language guide? TSF shares 3 things they find interesting in the guide. Also this week: localisation, gender biases and Ukraine dam.
C2C#019: Climate Change and Technology in Humanitarian Action
How does climate change affect humanitarian situations, and how technology can support resilience to climate-related events?
C2C#018: 3 ways to support NGO workers’ needs
Witness to crisis after crisis, NGO workers are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues. What can be done to help them? Also this week: meet Emmanuel, head of communications at TSF. How do you get into the humanitarian sector?
C2C#017: How can we help refugees with their mental health?
The ITW Charity Run raised funds for TSF! Also this week: how can tech solutions support the mental health of displaced people?
C2C#016: Why is World Telecom Day important?
This week: why World Telecommunications Day matters, and a digital platform for people affected by humanitarian crises.
C2C#015: Stories of 2 humanitarians helping Ukrainian refugees
We put the spotlight on local initiatives TSF supports in Poland and the stories of humanitarian workers who work there. Also this week: the ITW Charity Run.
C2C#014: How can tech make medical support possible?
This week we look at how technology can be used to prevent humanitarian crisis and the role of satellite technology in bridging the digital divide.
C2C#013: Providing Essential Information for Ukrainian refugees
We honor the International Girls in ICT Day coming up, and introduce you to Hanna, TSF staff, a Ukrainian national providing information for refugees in Poland.
C2C#012: What has TSF done in Latin America in 2022?
New report on the project in Latin America to provide essential information to people in mobility, and a discussion with Eutelsat’s CSR director.
C2C#011: Data Protection and AI in Humanitarian NGOs
This week we delve into the world of data protection and the impact of Artificial Intelligence in humanitarian organizations.
The Call to Comms: The Importance of Digital Mapping
How do humanitarians know where to go when they’re on the field? We explain how GIS works, and how it helps us. Also: 7,000 new islands discovered in Japan’s archipelago thanks to technology!
The Call to Comms: The dangers faced by refugee women
What dangers do refugee women face? How can we help reduce them? Also: what you need to know about the latest IPCC report.
C2C#007 Women in NGOs
Are women taken into account in humanitarian decision-making? What do they bring to humanitarian action? Also: co-founding an NGO as a woman.
C2C#006: Empowering women through technology
An event to introduce women to digital mapping, what can be done to bridge digital divide, and an interview of Inmarsat, our partner of 23 years.
C2C#005: Why we’re still in Ukraine, one year later
How can we provide essential information and connectivity to Ukrainians fleeing the war? Meet the TSF staff who makes it possible.
The Call to Comms #003: Responding to earthquakes
A quick update on TSF’s response to the earthquake, how technology can help find earthquake survivors, and humanitarian collaboration in the field.
C2C#002 On the way to restore connectivity in Turkey
In our second newsletter, we talk about deploying to Turkey following the earthquake, how to build community resilience and how humanitarian issues affect women.
C2C#001: Global Humanitarian Trends for 2023
Télécoms Sans Frontières break down the main points in OCHA’s Global Humanitarian Trends report for 2023 and our insights into what’s in store.