April-May 2024 | Adapting, prioritising, and strengthening the humanitarian sector
April-May 2024 | Adapting, prioritising, and strengthening the humanitarian sector
Credit: Alice Piaggio
The humanitarian sector needs modernisation. How can we maintain a humanitarian space in an increasingly polarised environment, and how should we assess and prioritise interventions across various causes?
We interviewed Christian Lenz, Head of Innovation at the ICRC, and Guillaume Vorreux, Director of Effective Altruism France, who shared their insights on the complexities of modernising and optimising humanitarian efforts.
On the occasion of the upcoming Social entrepreneurship meetup in Vienna organised by the Austrian Red Cross in partnership with the French Red Cross and IFRC in June 5th-7th, we have also published the interview of Elin Baranyai-Ulvestad, Program Manager of Redpreneur on the entrepreneurs’ journey.
HUMANITARIAN INNOVATION
Christian Lenz “How can we truly localise and decolonise aid?”
Christian Lenz is the new Head of Innovation at International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and an MBA with a specialisation in digital transformation from Politecnico di Milano (Italy). After graduation, he co-founded an engineering company specialising in providing novel solutions for complex acoustic challenges. He joined ICRC in 2016 as an engineer and worked in various field-based roles within the engineering unit in the Near and Middle East. In 2022, he joined the headquarters of the ICRC, overseeing engineering activities across the same region. Highlighting the importance of humanitarian innovation at the ICRC, he explains that “it is equally important to address the root causes of humanitarian crises to prevent them from recurring”.
What is your vision of innovation in the upcoming years within the humanitarian sector?
The humanitarian sector urgently needs modernization. How can we truly localise and decolonize aid? How can we maintain a humanitarian space in an increasingly polarised environment? How can we find more cost-effective solutions facing increasingly dire humanitarian needs and situations worsened by climate change amidst a contracting funding environment?
Innovation - the ability to create value through experimentation and implementation of novel approaches and solutions - has a pivotal role to play in showing up alternatives addressing these questions. It is critically important not to do this in isolation but that we co-create solutions with an open mindset with all relevant stakeholders.
Starting from well-understood problems conflict-affected communities are exposed, the role of innovation is to enable development and responsible testing of novel approaches to address the problems, while consolidating learnings and removing structural barriers.
And at ICRC more specifically?
In the constantly evolving landscape within which the ICRC operates, we aim to adapt with intention and anticipation. We achieve this through interdisciplinary innovation, generating solutions that not only support organisational transformation but also yield tangible value, both directly and indirectly benefiting those we serve.
What is the mistake that the humanitarian sector should stop making in 2024?
One of the crucial mistakes the humanitarian sector should aim to cease in 2024 is the tendency to prioritise short-term relief efforts over long-term sustainable solutions. While immediate aid is essential in crisis situations, it is equally important to address the root causes of humanitarian crises to prevent them from recurring. This requires a focus on sustainable development initiatives, building of resilient communities, and advocating for systemic changes. Leveraging systems thinking and foresight methodologies, the humanitarian sector can work towards creating lasting positive impacts, reducing the need for constant emergency response, and systematically reducing dependencies. Investing in true bottom-up approaches and standing ready in supporting such efforts centrally can make an enormous difference and unlock amazing novel approaches.
Read the full version of the interview here.
EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM
Effective Altruism : how to prioritise humanitarian interventions over others?
In a world of complex challenges and limited resources, effective altruism poses a crucial question: "How can we best help others?"
Join us as we delve into the strategies and principles behind effective altruism with Guillaume Vorreux, Director of Effective Altruism France, exploring how interventions from various aid sectors can be assessed and prioritised for a maximum impact.
How does effective altruism assess and prioritise interventions from various aid sectors to select and ensure the greatest impact?
Effective altruism promotes the use of evidence-based approaches to assess and prioritise interventions across various causes. When applied to the aid sector (the movement embraces multiple causes), this process is deeply rooted in health economics research, usually focusing on the counterfactual impact of interventions —what would happen if the intervention did not occur— as well as their historical effectiveness.
2) Two of your guiding principles are “open truthseeking” and “impartial altruism”.
Could you elaborate on these principles and explain why they are fundamentals for effective altruism?
Good question! Effective altruism is a bit unusual because it does not start with a “preferred problem to solve”. This is clear when you look at the wide range of interventions and problems the effective altruism community works on - international aid, animal welfare, moral philosophy, pandemics prevention, international governance on social risks from emerging technologies. This diversity sometimes confuses people, but it comes from the fact that the “EA movement” is a large group of people united by the desire to find the best ways to help others, following a few principles. People choose to work on a variety of projects.
Open truth-seeking is the commitment to rigorously and honestly investigate the effectiveness of different actions and interventions within the framework of effective altruism. It embodies a dedication to adjust one's perspectives in light of new evidence or compelling counterarguments, striving to disprove rather than merely confirm existing beliefs. This approach not only facilitates clearer thinking but also mitigates cognitive biases that can cloud judgement and decision-making.
The principle of impartiality insists that all lives—regardless of geographic, temporal, or species differences—have inherent value. This means we must direct resources and efforts to where they can achieve the greatest measurable impact without bias towards proximity or emotional closeness. It can often lead to prioritising support for underrepresented groups, such as individuals in low-income countries, future generations, and non-human animals, particularly when these groups are neglected or underserved by mainstream philanthropic and societal efforts. Impartiality in altruism ensures that actions are grounded not in parochial or insular preferences but in a universalistic ambition to do good.
Read the full version of the interview here.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Social Entrepreneurship Meet up in Vienna | June 5-7
REDpreneur, an initiative of the Austrian Red Cross, provides solutions for transformative social impact while striving for financial sustainability. On the occasion of the Social entrepreneurship meetup in Vienna, we have published the interview of Elin Baranyai-Ulvestad, Program Manager of Redpreneur, who told us about supporting entrepreneurs’ journey here.
Organised by the Austrian Red Cross and in partnership with the French Red Cross and IFRC, we are delighted to invite you to an international Red Cross Red Crescent gathering on Social entrepreneurship & Innovation on June 5th – June 7th 2024, in Vienna, Austria.
This year’s Meet-Up will be hosted during and as part of the Impact Days 2024, Austria’s largest annual conference uniting 500+ impact investors, policymakers, and social entrepreneurs from 50+ countries to catalyse innovation and shape a sustainable future through collaboration.
Do you want to be part of this exciting event? Then ✍️ please register here!
As usual, find below the latest solutions published on Red Social Innovation coming from Romania, Denmark, Kenya and Spain that have been featured on Red Social Innovation this month.
PIDA is a project developed by AlfabeTICs60, a Spanish not-for profit governmental association to facilitate the digital inclusion of the elderly
AllGrow is a dynamic Romanian platform facilitating connections and empowering youth to craft social innovations through gamification and technology
Barefoot Law is an Ugandan non profit organisation which, through the innovative use of digital technology, empowers people with free legal information in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda so that they can use it to develop legal solutions for their justice needs.
GAME is a Danish association which mission is to create lasting social change through youth-led street sports and culture
Read all our latest solutions here.
Climate
Climate care: anticipating, measuring, and mitigating climate change
Each month, Red Social Innovation and TECSOS upload a one-minute video to their social media in which they present 3 projects based on a specific theme. This month was dedicated to climate care, with the highlight of three solutions :
NANDO, the AI sensor that measures your waste
Komunidad, the Early Warning software that anticipates climate risks
CO(mpensa)2: carbon offsetting through the restoration of intelligent ecosystems
Want to know more about them? Click here to watch the latest video.
TECSOS | The Social Technologies Foundation, TECSOS, is a non-profit foundation created in 2002 through the joint promotion of the Spanish Red Cross and the Vodafone Spain Foundation. TECSOS relies on technological innovation and Information & Communication Technologies to respond to social needs in a responsible manner, contributing to skill development and paying special attention to the most vulnerable.
Would you like to get in touch to start a collaboration, share a message or submit a solution on Red Social Innovation?
Please contact:
Camille Loiseau | camille.loiseau@croix-rouge.fr
Ana Penalver Blanco | apblanco@cruzroja.es
Thanks to Alice Piaggio for the illustration 🌈
FOUNDERS
PARTNERS
