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Innovation and future preparedness

Science, technology and innovation

Humanitarian agencies are, in general, slow to pick up on key developments in science and technology. Part of the problem is the short and often urgent time-frames that prevail within the sector which make it difficult for staff to engage in the type of horizon scanning and future thinking needed to stimulate innovation and development. Often good operational staff lack the type of expertise needed to engage and assess the huge volume of research and development on offer from the science and technology community. At the same time, to date, there has been relatively few formal mechanisms for agencies to articulate their needs to scientists and innovators. A greater understanding of how agencies access and absorb research and innovation is needed in order to find mechanisms that could improve their responsiveness to developments within science, technology, and other disciplines.

We are currently funding two projects that seek to increase the impact of science and innovation within humanitarian policy and practice. To find out more about these projects follow the links below:

Preparedness and Future Planning

The humanitarian landscape is expected to significantly change over the next 50 years. Research points to increased numbers of small to medium-sized natural disasters, the spread of resource-driven conflict and an increase in the number of failed states, and new threats from biological and technological disasters. Humanitarian agencies are beginning to recognise that they need to be able to anticipate and prepare for these new environments and therefore there is an increasing interest in exploring how to incorporate 'futures' research into their policy and operational plans.

Humanitarian Innovations Fund

The Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) was launched on the 14th October to support operational innovations to better assist those affected by disasters. The fund will support organisations working in countries struck by humanitarian crises such as Haiti or Pakistan to develop, test and share new technologies and processes that will contribute to more effective and cost-efficient humanitarian aid in the future.

Created through a partnership between two leading initiatives in the humanitarian sector, ELRHA and ALNAP, with a £900,000 start up investment from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), this fund represents a collective effort to enhance the contribution of innovation to improving humanitarian performance in the field.

Please click here for further information.

Leading work in this field:

  • The Humanitarian Futures Programme
    The Humanitarian Futures Programme helps organisations with humanitarian responsibilities to prepare for future humanitarian threats. HFP generates and provides advice upon a growing number of solutions to help such organisations strengthen their prevention, preparedness and response capacities.