Signpost, an initiative spearheaded by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), establishes digital information hubs designed to empower individuals affected by crises, conflict, and disasters. By leveraging local teams equipped with advanced digital tools, channels, and social media, Signpost delivers essential information to the most neglected and “last mile” communities. This initiative enables these individuals to make crucial decisions and regain a sense of control over their lives.

Information is power

When Signpost first launched in 2015, 65 million people were forcibly displaced around the world. By the end of 2023, that number has reached over 117 million people — the highest it has ever been. With over 4 billion people using mobile internet worldwide and the technological expertise of partners like Meta, Google, Zendesk, Cisco, and Twilio, Signpost is uniquely positioned to reach people in crisis, wherever they are. Today Signpost programs operate in nearly 30 countries and 25 languages. 

How does Signpost work?

Signpost puts crucial, fact-checked knowledge into the hands of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Its innovative design centers around three key features:

  1. Service Mapping: Service maps show users geolocated, verified information about government and private sector services available to them.
  2. Community-Led Content: Signpost consolidates articles and relevant information, ensuring clarity and conciseness while highlighting helpful insights for users. This content is contextualized for the specific community it serves and published on each program’s website and social media channels.
  3. Two-Way Communications: Discussion channels enable Signpost users to ask questions about the challenges they are currently facing and receive guidance from a trustworthy source. Frequently asked questions include:  

From Kabul to Italy: An Afghan refugee’s experience with Signpost

A woman in a hijab looking at her phone
Italy. Maryam, 27, came to Italy as a refugee and now works for IRC’s Signpost program.

In 2021, Maryam and her family were forced to leave Afghanistan and evacuate to Italy. As Maryam began trying to settle in, she found the language barrier to be incredibly difficult. She also felt completely lost attempting to figure out the legal process. 

She would ask people about the policies of the Italian government towards migration and what documents she needed, but nobody was able to help. Then, she discovered Refugee.Info Italy–the Signpost program in Italy–where she was able to access urgently needed information about the issues she was facing in a language she could understand.

“First of all, accurate information is important for every person, and it's most important for migrants because they are in a new society, in a place where they are not aware of their government, they are not aware of their policies, nothing,” she says.

After coming to Italy with just a pair of clothes and her computer, Maryam now works at the IRC as a social media moderator for Signpost and the Refugee.Info Italy project. “When our clients or our audience are sending messages to our social media platforms, they are available in six languages,” she shares. “So when they are sending messages, they feel very happy that we are able to communicate with them in a language that they can understand. And they are recommending our page to other migrants and refugees.”

Unlocking artificial Intelligence for good

Signpost is breaking new ground, redefining the limits of who can be reached with humanitarian assistance. With the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI), Signpost has set an ambitious target of reaching 50% of the world’s displaced.

To achieve this goal and ensure that information is never a barrier for crisis-affected people to safeguard their human rights, Signpost is working with Google to create an AI prototyping lab. By leveraging the capabilities of generative AI, Signpost aims to develop and expand community-driven information programs on a global scale, ensuring that no refugee or individual in crisis is overlooked.

Signpost’s latest offering: Support for asylum seekers and migrants in NYC

Signpost and IRC are excited to announce the launch of Document.Info in collaboration with Documented, a nonprofit newsroom reporting for and about New York City’s immigrant communities.

Document.info is Signpost’s latest offering, created to provide asylum seekers and migrants in New York City with reliable, multilingual information covering everything from access to shelter and mental health resources, employment eligibility, and labor rights to how to navigate the asylum process and find legal support.

A man typing and looking at the laptop screen
El Salvador. IRC staff look at CuentaNos.org in the office. Cuenta Nos is Signpost in Central America.

Are you in crisis or displaced and in need of urgent information?

Visit the Signpost site for more information or look below for Signpost offerings by country.

* indicates planned and funded programs that have not yet launched.