innov-aid

Why is innovation necessary?

Drivers and objectives

Another way to understand “innovation” could be to scrutinize the developments and factors that precede the innovation process, i.e. that lead to the existence and/or recognition of a problem to be solved. Various factors can help accelerate the need or willingness to innovate: new challenges that a changing humanitarian landscape is facing (e.g. increased insecurity), new expectations for accountability and ambitions to improve programming, as well as new abilities or actors based on scientific or other developments that can be applied for humanitarian efforts.

• New challenges: The changing environment of humanitarian action can introduce unprecedented challenged that require new approaches. This includes what has been described as increased insecurity and more incidents of targeted attacks against aid workers, more frequent natural disasters, urban disasters and prolonged crises.
  
  See: McGoldrick, C. (2012). The future of humanitarian action: an ICRC perspective. International Review of the Red Cross, 93(884), 965–991.

• New ambitions: Calls for accountability and transparency have become louder and popular expectations in many places demand that aid organizations publish their data, justify their spending and explain their programming. Aid organizations striving to optimize their delivery or improve the most vulnerable parts of their programming, may put innovations and new thinking up on their agenda. In addition, new insights and experiences, for instance on the long-term needs of aid or the value of early warning, recovery and learning may incentivize new methodologies.
  
  See: Penz, P. (2014). Humanitarianism, the results agenda, innovations and the South Sudan crisis (pp. 1–26).

• New abilities: Scientific and technological developments can offer new tools that humanitarians can use. Especially research and the private sector may have piloted or integrated solutions that have direct relevant to aid, including communication technologies, unmanned aerial vehicles or innovative partnerships, work flows and other approaches.
  
  See: Frost, J. (2014). Eyes in the Sky are Inevitable: UAVs and Humanitarian Response. Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection (PHAP).

• New actors: In addition to introducing new tools and opportunities, the private sector and other sectors can also enable innovation and change through more active engagement. Companies may become interested in the humantiarian sector and actively develop related projects and initiatives. Partnerships between humantiarian and other professionals also drive innovation processes and open new ideas and opportunities.