The International Committee of the Red Cross reunifies families separated by conflicts and disasters, keeping data secure in the Microsoft Cloud

The reunification process used to be highly manual. Caseworkers had to collect data through paper forms and spreadsheets, then store it locally in secure on-premises databases. Deeply invested in helping families, they needed a system that could support their dedication to helping families find answers and speed up the process.

The ICRC engaged ELCA Informatique SA, a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure), Digital & App Innovation (Azure) and Business Applications, to transform the reunification process by creating an efficient digital platform. Its vision: streamline data collection by caseworkers, collect data directly from beneficiaries through an online portal, and keep families better informed about the status of their case throughout the process—all built with privacy by design to help keep the highly confidential data secure.

ELCA recommended a cloud-based solution in Microsoft Azure, incorporating Microsoft Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and Azure Active Directory into the design. This includes Power Pages for building the online portal. Given its stringent data protection policies, the ICRC needed all data to be stored fully in datacenters in Switzerland. That requirement aligns with Microsoft’s commitment to government and public-sector customers that stipulate the country or region in which their data resides.

The ICRC and ELCA partnered with the Swedish Red Cross to develop this solution and deploy it around the world. The digitized solution was initially launched in Sweden to support the first steps of families’ reunification, and it will continue to expand into additional locations in the future.

With nearly 4,000 people reunited with their families through the efforts of the ICRC globally in 2021 alone, the future is brighter—not just for those in Sweden but for thousands more people across the globe.