Scaling the impact of innovation in a new aid system

Join the Norwegian NGO’s Innovation Network for an event that explores lessons from successful innovation initiatives and identifies the elements needed to use innovation as a strategic tool, ensuring that aid effectively meets needs on the ground. Individual innovation projects have shown success, however we have yet to fully unlock the potential for meaningful, system-wide change.

Delivering more effective aid is a shared challenge that requires a collective innovation agenda. Too many humanitarian needs are unmet, and development goals remain out of reach. This calls us to mobilize our strengths and further build on good practices to secure future impact.

This event brings together key stakeholders from successful innovation initiatives and the aid sector to share successes, insights, and outline our roles in a collective innovation agenda.

Innovation practitioners will share experiences of successful collaborations and scaling new solutions to ensure long-term impact. Organizational leaders will exchange insights on how to strengthen innovation efforts through building organizations that are ready for the future.

Join us to explore the role of innovation in shaping the future of aid during times of crisis, through two very interesting conversations with speakers from the field!

A Conversation and Key Insights from Innovation Practitioners

Our aim for the conversation is for innovation practitioners to share experiences from successful collaborations around innovation projects and scaling initiatives. We will focus on identifying concrete examples and initiatives that have already strengthened collaboration between stakeholders. This could involve exploring new funding models, adapting procurement policies or other practical improvements.

To guide this conversation and move toward actionable outcomes, we will address questions such as:

• What examples do we have on how to better foster innovation partnerships among key players to collaborate from the outset and drive sustainable local and global solutions?
  

• What have we learned from past experiences to facilitate co-creation and the scaling of successful solutions developed by communities, national or international actors to achieve lasting impact?

Taking part in this conversation are the following contributors:

• Safia Verjee, Executive Director- International Center for Humanitarian Affairs at
  Kenya Red Cross Society.

• Camilla Louise Bjerkli, Director Sustainability at BEWI AS.

• Emad Nasher Alneam, Director of Field Ready in Turkey.

• Eivind Aalborg, Special Advisor at Norwegian Church Aid.

Conversation moderated by Linn Bogsnes Miles, Senior Consultant at Tinkr

A Conversation on the Strategic Role of Innovation to Future Proof the Aid System

Our aim for the conversation is for strategic leaders to explore how we can strengthen innovation as a strategic tool for reaching humanitarian goals, making smarter investments, and building organisations that can respond effectively to evolving challenges. What is the role of innovation in shaping the future of aid in a time of crisis?

To guide this conversation and move toward actionable outcomes, we must address critical questions such as:

• To unlock the potential for meaningful, system-wide change, it is important for organizations to be innovation friendly – also at a strategic leadership level. How can we facilitate this?
  

• How can we sustain momentum amid shrinking funding? What role does organizational leadership play in ensuring that innovation initiatives are continued amidst processes often characterized by cutbacks?
  

• Shifting power dynamics is not only an ethical imperative but also a practical one. How can we contribute to expanding localized, innovative practices to ensure funding, capacity strengthening and adaptability?

Taking part in this conversation are the following contributors:

• Hana Cervenka, Deputy Director- Section for Humanitarian Policy, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Håvard Mokleiv Nygård, Director for Knowledge and Innovation at Norad.

• Linda Nordby, Acting Director of International Programmes at Norwegian Church Aid.

• Maggie Korde, Global Director of Innovation at Save the Children.

• Therese Marie Uppstrøm- Pankratov, Special Advisor for HIP at Innovation Norway.

Conversation moderated by Linn Bogsnes Miles, Senior Consultant at Tinkr