Three simple and essential points to innovate responsibly in aid
While the international community became aware of what was going on with chemical weapons in Syria, in 2013, I attended my first significant innovation conference—sitting in the back and grasping all in… flashy introduction movies, interactive surveys in a packed room. The following humanitarian innovation award was about to be announced on stage. Lights turned off and on, some catchy music on the speakers, and the announcement was made in a second.
Years later, I tried to google the app; I could only find some information about the launching ceremony a couple of months after this conference. The app just never made it. Right, why to bother, you might wonder… But when we see humanitarian needs rising and the willingness of so many to do something good, we have to ensure we innovate responsibly in aid—innovating to alleviate suffering. To improve our assistance to others is a no-brainer, but we have to ensure we innovate responsibly. This blog will dig briefly into my three no-brainers for responsible innovation in aid.
1. Address a real use case
Over one hundred thousand euros for an app to detect a major disease, prevalent in low and middle-income countries. A few years earlier in the DR Congo, I’ve seen too many young kids suffering from this (not those kids in the picture, my neighbors at that time). However, back in that packed room, I started to read some basic info, analyzing the app and I became worried: its massive size to download, language choice and bandwidth requirements to use the app. This app was never possible to be used in those areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo where I had seen so many cases.
Three children copying me squatting while making a photo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Katanga region November 2009 (photo by Claire Barnhoorn)
The first one might be too obvious to mention, but unfortunately, too many innovations fail to address a good use case. Which need is addressed? What is the context, the parameters of the environment, and the people that will interact with the innovation?
Everybody with an MBA is drilled to apply and set out a proper business case. You need to know your audience. Right, it is (and should!) exactly be the same in aid. Please do not assume anything; certainly not believe that people are helpless and in dire need of something you think they need. Fix your homework (culturally, socially, environmentally, regulatory, etc.) to innovate responsibly. We need to add a critical note to this. Please wonder and question yourself if responsibly addressing this use case means innovating and investing locally. Use available and used material; this, and for example, cultural appropriateness, is all part of this homework.
2. Collaborate, partner and support for any challenge or price
Secondly, for awards and challenges being launched: collaborate with an ‘established’ and local entity somewhere across the globe. Base your challenge on an existing use case whereby your partnering, collaborating, supporting entity has on the ground and local experience. Share the cultural, social, environmental, regulatory context within the challenge. Importantly, assure to include this in the question or your challenge for an innovation price. Keep asking questions. Assure that contextual questions are addressed, as are the regulations regarding your challenge.
Finally, assure financial means or support are included. Financial support for the uptake (or pilot) by your partnering and collaborating entity locally. (see below in the third point… equally important, share these lessons learned of its use in the first year). Failing support of innovations (regardless of which sector) is undoubtedly one of the main reasons innovation fails. Responsibly launching a challenge means including support!
3. Share failures equally to successes
Thirdly, much in line with the above, we must share our lessons learned. Studies worldwide have shown that about 60 to 80% of all new products fail. Not any different in our sector, obviously. However, within the aid sector, there is a reluctance to share things that have gone wrong. There are serious concerns about what bad publicity does with the reputation of an (established) NGO. At the same time, there is a lot of attention regarding the reluctance of NGOs to innovate. Countless programs are aimed to support NGOs to become more innovative without addressing this core concern. So how do we share our lessons learned? We should actively create an open environment by sharing what has gone wrong and what could be done differently. This will save many more lives than only sharing our success stories.
Summarizing how to innovation responsible in our aid sector
In sum, to innovate responsibly, much has to do with sharing expertise, knowing your users and making sure you address a real need with a contextual fit. Share successes but equally -and far more importantly- the failures. With your business case, make sure to answer the questions about why you are faster, better, and or more cost-effective than other solutions out there. This implies that you know the other solutions, existing practises and infrastructure. Make sure to connect to communities of practice and networks working in the operational area of your innovation, beyond an innovators network. Finally, once again, don’t assume anything, make sure you know.
“Don’t assume anything; make sure you know.”
