Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Religious Humanitarian Aid for Achieving Sustainable Communication Frameworks in Sierra Leone

Inaku K. Egere¹, John Peter Bebeley², Prince Tongor Mabey^{3, 4,} and Samuel Joseph Bebeley⁴

¹Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

²Centre for the Study of African Culture and Communication, Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

³Institute of Environmental Management and Quality Control, School of Environmental Sciences, Njala University, Courier delivery, 19 Henry Street; PMB, Freetown, Sierra Leone

⁴Department of Health Education and Behavioural Science, School of Education, Njala University, Courier delivery: 19 Henry Street; PMB, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Cite this paper:
Inaku K. Egere, John Peter Bebeley, Prince Tongor Mabey and Samuel Joseph Bebeley. Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Religious Humanitarian Aid for Achieving Sustainable Communication Frameworks in Sierra Leone. American Journal of Educational Research. 2026; 14(1):49-55. doi: 10.12691/education-14-1-5

Abstract

The global humanitarian landscape is increasingly being shaped by digital technologies, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) offering unprecedented capabilities for data analysis, pattern recognition, and automated communication. However, the integration of AI within the unique operational and ethical frameworks of Religious Non-Governmental Organizations (RNGOs) remains underexplored. This study therefore investigates the perceptions, opportunities, and challenges of integrating AI tools into the humanitarian communication strategies of RNGOs operating in Sierra Leone. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining a quantitative survey of 150 staff from major RNGOs (including World Vision, Caritas, Catholic Relief Services, and Islamic Relief) with qualitative semi-structured interviews with 15 senior programme and communication managers. A reliability test using Cronbach's Alpha confirmed the internal consistency of the survey instrument (α = 0.89). The study reveals that religious NGOs enjoy high community trust (85% of respondents), positioning them as ideal intermediaries for AI-enabled humanitarian communication. The findings also indicate a strong recognition of AI's potential for predictive analytics in disaster response (82%) and natural language processing for community feedback (75%). However, significant barriers were identified, including infrastructural deficits (90%), data privacy concerns, ethical frameworks aligned with both humanitarian principles and religious values (85%). AI can significantly augment the humanitarian communication efforts of RNGOs in Sierra Leone. Successful integration requires a context-sensitive approach that prioritizes capacity building, ethical frameworks for data use, and strategic partnerships between RNGOs, AI developers, and government agencies to ensure that AI serves as a tool for inclusive and sustainable development that respect local cultural and religious contexts while advancing Sierra Leone's development goals.

Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence sustainable communication Humanitarian aid communication manager

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Meier, P. (2015). Digital Humanitarians: How Big Data is Changing the Face of.
[2]	Jobin, A., Ienca, M., & Vayena, E. (2019). The global landscape of AI ethics guidelines. Nature machine intelligence, 1(9), 389-399.
[3]	Ulnicane, I., Eke, D. O., Knight, W., Ogoh, G., & Stahl, B. C. (2021). Good governance as a response to discontents? Déjà vu, or lessons for AI from other emerging technologies. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, 46(1-2), 71-93.
[4]	Juhant, J., & Strahovnik, V. (Eds.). (2014). Dialogue in the global world: from ideologies to persons (Vol. 1). LIT Verlag Münster.
[5]	Dessì, U. (2016). The Global Repositioning of Japanese Religions: An Integrated Approach. Routledge.
[6]	de-Lima-Santos, M. F., & Jamil, S. (2024). Bridging the AI divide: human and responsible AI in news and media industries. Emerging Media, 2(3), 335-346.
[7]	Mohamed, S., Png, M. T., & Isaac, W. (2020). Decolonial AI: Decolonial theory as sociotechnical foresight in artificial intelligence. Philosophy & Technology, 33(4), 659-684.
[8]	Opesemowo, O. A. G., & Adekomaya, V. (2024). Harnessing artificial intelligence for advancing sustainable development goals in South Africa's higher education system: A qualitative study. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 23(3), 67-86.
[9]	Youvan, D. C. (2024). Illuminating Intelligence: Bridging Humanity and Artificial Consciousness.
[10]	Fung, Brian, (2023). “Pope Francis Warns About AI’s Dangers.” CNN, August 9, 2023. https:// edition.cnn.com/ 2023/08/09/tech/pope-francis-ai/ index.html#: ~: text=Pope% 20Francis%20warned%20that%20artificial, AI% 20to% 20do% 20so% 20responsibly.
[11]	James, R. (2021). Faith-Based Organisations and Development in Sierra Leone. Journal of Modern African Studies, 59(1), 23-45.
[12]	Aliaga, V., & Ríos, V. M. (2023). Generative Artificial Intelligence Era: a view from the Global South. Política Internacional, (134), 113-127.
[13]	Walter, Y. (2024). Managing the race to the moon: Global policy and governance in Artificial Intelligence regulation—A contemporary overview and an analysis of socioeconomic consequences. Discover Artificial Intelligence, 4(1), 14.
[14]	Elamin, M. O. I. (2024). Modernizing the charitable sector through artificial intelligence: Enhancing efficiency and impact. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(4), 3426-3443.
[15]	Mbithi, A., & Maina, L. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Promise for Equitable Education in Emerging Economies.