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THERE IS NOTHING MORE PRACTICAL THAN GOOD THEORY
systems practice: a practical approach to move from impossible to impact
Theme: GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
According to the United Nations, last year there were 128.6 million people affected by conflict, violence, and disaster in the world. Among those numbers, 96.9 million required humanitarian assistance–three times more than 10 years ago. This means that global humanitarian financing has surged to unprecedented levels, or $22 billion a year, raising the need for more efficiency and accountability in how this assistance is provided.
GUIDING STAR: We envision a multi-lateral humanitarian system that is able to collaborate effectively in providing agile assistance to vulnerable populations. Because humanitarian participation will be considered a key issue, the private sector will help to build in all regions of the world the readiness to fund, deploy and scale the required preparedness, response and recovery activities for times of crisis. Innovative technologies will guarantee that all interventions in favor of affected populations appropriately meet their real needs, while protecting and supporting their human rights. User-centric delivery will be championed as well as more access to services and goods provided by local communities. The resilience of these communities will be strengthened by proper investments in infrastructure.
NEAR STAR: In 10 years, we seek to increase to 10% the amount of funds from donor countries and committed private sector players that are dedicated to humanitarian innovation, from the current low of 1%. This will be accomplished by promoting public-private partnerships that prototype, test and scale solutions for the humanitarian system.
FRAMING QUESTION: How might we make investing in humanitarian innovation a mainstream activity for public and private actors seeking to build together social resilience ahead of humanitarian crises?
Sub Theme: MANAGEMENT AND DIFFUSION OF HUMANITARIAN INNOVATIONS
CORE STORY: Innovation is not exclusive of the private sector whose usual incentives are to seek market-based solutions to everyday problems. Innovation is also needed in the humanitarian system, especially when the complexity of both sudden-onset and slow-onset disasters grows every year. Unfortunately, only 1% of the budget allocated to humanitarian action is dedicated to innovation, so resources and the effectiveness of the services provided are not enough. Different decision-making processes are needed for change the status quo if society truly wants to leave no one behind and resist the apathy that diffuses responsibility in these urgent crises. Businesses and academic institutions, through design thinking and education that puts recipients at the center, can do much to promote cross-sectoral innovation inside the humanitarian community, especially while powering action and improved services that harness the power of our digital era. Other institutions promoting neutral spaces for humanitarian innovation, like the World Economic Forum, can also be helpful to drop the barriers to cross-sectoral cooperation that leads to more adaptive programming in humanitarian preparedness and response. Altogether, hopefully leveraging the momentum generated by the Sustainable Development Goals process, society can improve the way it listens to the needs of affected populations and those at risk of man-made or natural disasters.
GUIDING STAR: We envision a multi-lateral humanitarian system that is able to collaborate effectively in providing agile assistance to vulnerable populations. Because humanitarian participation will be considered a key issue, the private sector will help to build in all regions of the world the readiness to fund, deploy and scale the required preparedness, response and recovery activities for times of crisis. Innovative technologies will guarantee that all interventions in favor of affected populations appropriately meet their real needs, while protecting and supporting their human rights. User-centric delivery will be championed as well as more access to services and goods provided by local communities. The resilience of these communities will be strengthened by proper investments in infrastructure.
NEAR STAR: In 10 years, we seek to increase to 10% the amount of funds from donor countries and committed private sector players that are dedicated to humanitarian innovation, from the current low of 1%. This will be accomplished by promoting public-private partnerships that prototype, test and scale solutions for the humanitarian system.
FRAMING QUESTION: How might we make investing in humanitarian innovation a mainstream activity for public and private actors seeking to build together social resilience ahead of humanitarian crises?
Sub Theme: MANAGEMENT AND DIFFUSION OF HUMANITARIAN INNOVATIONS
CORE STORY: Innovation is not exclusive of the private sector whose usual incentives are to seek market-based solutions to everyday problems. Innovation is also needed in the humanitarian system, especially when the complexity of both sudden-onset and slow-onset disasters grows every year. Unfortunately, only 1% of the budget allocated to humanitarian action is dedicated to innovation, so resources and the effectiveness of the services provided are not enough. Different decision-making processes are needed for change the status quo if society truly wants to leave no one behind and resist the apathy that diffuses responsibility in these urgent crises. Businesses and academic institutions, through design thinking and education that puts recipients at the center, can do much to promote cross-sectoral innovation inside the humanitarian community, especially while powering action and improved services that harness the power of our digital era. Other institutions promoting neutral spaces for humanitarian innovation, like the World Economic Forum, can also be helpful to drop the barriers to cross-sectoral cooperation that leads to more adaptive programming in humanitarian preparedness and response. Altogether, hopefully leveraging the momentum generated by the Sustainable Development Goals process, society can improve the way it listens to the needs of affected populations and those at risk of man-made or natural disasters.