Made to measure: Aid kits that truly fit
From one-size-fits-all to community-designed humanitarian responses, UNICEF's Kits that Fit helps deliver effective and dignified support
When disaster strikes, the world often rushes to respond – but speed can sometimes come at the cost of relevance. Typical humanitarian kits are assembled from pre-set templates and assumptions about what people need, rather than from the people themselves. The result? Supplies that may arrive quickly but not always fit the reality on the ground.
UNICEF’s Kits that Fit initiative turns that model on its head. By asking communities what they need – before filling a single box – UNICEF ensures that aid is not just fast but fitting. This shift makes humanitarian support smarter, more efficient and grounded in dignity.
Developed with support from Norway’s Humanitarian Innovation Programme, Kits that Fit embeds accountability and practicality at the heart of emergency response. Each kit is tailored to the local context and, wherever possible, items are sourced nearby to strengthen local markets and speed delivery.
In pilot programmes, this approach has shown that the most effective aid starts with listening. When people have a say in what they receive, assistance becomes not just a handout, but a helping hand – designed with them, not for them.
Adaptable, resilient response
Through its pilot programmes, Kits that Fit has found that in harsh conditions, simple things grow in importance. Adolescent girls in Gaza want slip-on shoes and prayer suits included with menstrual hygiene supplies; parents in Ukraine question the inclusion of children’s whistles and potties in dignity kits distributed during an active conflict; and in Kenya, households affected by floods prefer to choose items using tokens.
Instead of pre-packing standard supplies, we talk to people, creating space for consultation and feedback through surveys, leaflets, focus group discussions or in-person conversations. The result is more responsive humanitarian supply chains, informed by community voices, proving that choice is both feasible and impactful, and that scale does not require uniformity.
In Kenya, when families selected items from local suppliers, satisfaction rose and dignity was enhanced; in Palestine, when women’s groups shaped the contents of Baby Boxes, a quarter of items were modified to reflect cultural relevance and newborn health needs.
Technology is playing a key role too. Digital platforms like RapidPro and U-Report, and QR-coded surveys, have made it possible to gather swift feedback at scale, even in emergencies. Combined with in-person consultations, these tools allow humanitarian organizations to hear directly from families in real time, closing the gap between delivery and accountability.
An important feature of Kits that Fit is the emphasis on local procurement to reduce lead times and strengthen local economies. By aligning aid delivery with local markets, humanitarian supply chains can become more sustainable, resilient and responsive.
Accountability at the core
Kits that Fit is part of UNICEF's commitment to Accountability to Affected Populations, demonstrating how consultation, feedback and adaptation, can embed accountability as a core component of the humanitarian system, rather than an after-thought.
This critical shift has demanded leadership across divisions: innovation teams developing new tools for quick digital feedback; supply teams opening procurement processes to local suppliers; and emergency operation and programme teams ensuring changes in kit design are grounded in evidence.
Kits that Fit has been widely recognized for its impact – including with a gold Anthem Award in 2024 – but the real measure of success is how people have shaped the kits they receive.
Partnering with the Humanitarian Logistics Association has allowed this innovative approach to reach more than 1 million people in 10 countries, and the next phase will focus on scaling to new countries and moving from response to preparedness. By consulting communities before disasters strike, local suppliers can stock appropriate items in advance, making aid faster and more effective.
Kits that Fit shows that aid can be adaptable, efficient and dignified. By listening to affected populations, partnering with local suppliers, and embedding feedback into operations, humanitarian supply chains can better meet the dual demands of speed and utility.
