The humanitarian innovation agenda has been broadly top-down to date, focused on improving the tools and practices of international humanitarian actors. Yet this top-down focus too often overlooks the talents, skills and aspirations of people affected by crises.
Our experience at Elrha shows that addressing the right problem is key to successful innovation; engagement with people affected by crises is essential for fully understanding problems and the solutions required.
HIF Innovation Manager Ian McClelland and Effective Partnerships Manager Frances Hill explore how strategic partnerships can support local innovation in an article published in the ‘Communication and community engagement in humanitarian response’ issue of the Humanitarian Exchange Magazine.
Photo Credit: NASSA/Caritas Philippines
Ian is an innovation management and grant-making specialist with 15 years’ experience in the international development and humanitarian sectors. He is passionate about employing structured funding, innovation management methods and evidence in support of humanitarian practitioners and social entrepreneurs looking to solve complex challenges.
Since joining Elrha, Ian has built up our work on locally-led innovation and innovation skills and capabilities, as well as working on our scale portfolio. He currently oversees all three areas. In particular, Ian is highly engaged in managing strategic partnerships with the Asia Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN) and the Start Network through the Community-Led Innovation Partnership.
In previous roles, Ian has led and worked on brand projects, digital campaigns and content strategy and development at Bond, Save the Children, Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Centre and Oxfam. He holds an MSc in Globalisation and Development from the University of Manchester and a BSc in Disaster Management and Technology from the University of Birmingham, and he is a Fellow of The RSA.
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