Humanitarian innovation

We believe innovation has the power to transform humanitarian response. Innovation to us is the development and implementation of new ideas, approaches, and solutions. Through funding, support and collaboration, we help humanitarian organisations, researchers and communities identify, test and scale innovative solutions. By investing in innovation, we aim to improve outcomes for people affected by crises.

Our commitment to innovation

We believe innovation is essential for a more effective, sustainable and inclusive humanitarian system. Our approach to innovation focuses on:

Identifying and nurturing ideas that address urgent humanitarian challenges.
Supporting innovation at every stage, from early research to large-scale implementation.
Strengthening pathways for adoption, ensuring that proven solutions reach communities in need.
Championing ethical and responsible innovation that puts affected people at the centre.

Leading the way in humanitarian innovation

We've been at the forefront of humanitarian innovation for more than a decade. Through the Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), we've supported hundreds of projects that seek to improve humanitarian response and address the critical challenges faced by people and communities in crisis.

Our work has demonstrated that innovation is not just about technology – it's about rethinking systems, processes and approaches to make humanitarian response more effective.

We've also pioneered initiatives like the Global Prioritisation Exercise for Humanitarian Research and Innovation (GPE), helping to map the gaps, investment trends and emerging needs that will shape the future of humanitarian action.

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Achievements in humanitarian innovation

Transforming ideas into impact

Our innovation programmes have led to real-world improvements in humanitarian response, including:

Mental health interventions in conflict zones – Scaling up Problem Management Plus (PM+) to provide low-cost psychological support in Haiti.
Menstrual health solutions in emergencies – Funding the distribution of reusable period underwear in Gaza, Lebanon, Mali, Somalia and Central African Republic.
Improved access to clean water – Supporting the adoption of new water purification technologies in refugee camps.
Adoption of AI in humanitarian decision-making – Exploring the role of artificial intelligence in crisis prediction, response and resource allocation.

Supporting innovation at scale

We know that adoption is key – solutions that work need to be integrated into humanitarian practice. Our Journey to Scale work supports promising innovations to become scale-ready through a bespoke package of advice, tools and guidance, while our Adoption Challenges help organisations implement proven innovations in real-world crisis settings.

Through these initiatives, we ensure that innovations don’t just remain ideas – they make a real difference to people affected by crises.

Goals and vision

Looking ahead, our innovation strategy is shaped by our 2023-2040 Strategy, which sets out long-term commitments to improve humanitarian response through research and innovation.

Our priorities include:

Strengthening locally-led innovation by increasing funding for solutions developed in crisis-affected regions.
Building stronger partnerships between humanitarians, researchers and the private sector.
Enhancing pathways for adoption to ensure proven solutions are embedded into humanitarian practice.
Advancing ethical and responsible innovation, focusing on equity, inclusion and community-driven approaches.