Humanitarian Innovation Portfolio
Transforming humanitarian action: Scaling innovative solutions to reach and protect children living in crises
Innovation in humanitarian action is vital for mitigating vulnerabilities and building resilience, especially amidst diminishing resources and escalating crises. In recent years, investments in innovation incubators and accelerators have surged, generating transformative solutions poised to reach millions of children. However, effective deployment strategies and strategic partnerships for scaling are essential to prevent the potential failure of promising innovations. Recognizing that business as usual is insufficient, the Humanitarian Innovation Portfolio focuses on identifying, supporting, and deploying high-impact innovations that promise more substantive and swift results for children.
How do we innovate for children?
Our goal is to transform humanitarian action by sourcing and adapting cutting-edge solutions that can benefit emergency operations. Evidence suggests that many promising innovations face barriers in the transition from pilot to scale, resulting in limited growth and hindered potential to reach children in emergencies. By consolidating expertise within the Office of Innovation, the Humanitarian Innovation Portfolio helps country offices understand and overcome barriers to successfully deploy solutions for children.
Additionally, the Portfolio collaborates closely with UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programs (EMOPs) and other humanitarian actors to foster an innovation ecosystem across the humanitarian landscape. In emergencies and crises, we promote collaboration by sharing ideas, data, and insights among various actors. By partnering with donors, tech firms, and project teams, we integrate advanced technologies from the private sector and adapt them for humanitarian use. This approach fosters smarter solutions and more inclusive partnerships to tackle the most pressing challenges in humanitarian contexts.
Our Impact
Today, the Portfolio showcases multiple innovations, each addressing critical challenges that hinder efficiency in humanitarian preparedness and response for children, including the underutilization of advanced technology. Since its inception, the Humanitarian Innovations Portfolio has identified, developed, and implemented solutions worldwide, reaching the children most in need of UNICEF’s support. Highlighted projects include:
- Customizing emergency kits for children and their families to precisely fit their needs in emergencies and implementing a digital feedback system for the ongoing improvement of kits for children and their families.
- Leveraging Peace Renewable Energy Credits to tackle the issue of unreliable and unsustainable energy sources, especially in conflict-stricken regions. Establishing an innovative finance system to bolster sustainable energy models in conflict affected regions, enhancing young people’s access to reliable health care and improved education.
- Enhancing machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to facilitate large-scale translations to local languages in humanitarian responses, promoting efficiency and inclusive engagement of first-line responders and affected populations.
Get Involved
Join us in advocating for crucial investments and technological support to enhance humanitarian preparedness and response efforts. Together, we can create more innovative, efficient, and effective solutions for every child in crisis.
Have an innovative idea that can improve humanitarian action? Get in touch!
