Page 10 - DHCI Magazine

Humanitarian Innovation, The Unlikely Duo
A Five-Year Milestone
10
Humanitarian Impact Re-imagined
This year, DCHI has been on a role for 5 years. An anniversary -or better, a milestone
- we reached by continuously pressing for
an outside-in perspective on humanitarian programmes and funding. A transformation and change that is still in progress and that has provided us with very insightful stories to tell.
Let me congratulate you, as a reader of this magazine that features 5 years of tales to tell, with your journey as an innovator so far. You will carry on to be an ambassador for the change needed in this sector.
When the idea of being involved in a new initiative (with the Netherlands Red Cross, Municipality of The Hague, NVO-NVW, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry
of Defence, and Cap Gemini) was put to UNICEF in 2016, there was no doubt about our commitment. It was then as it is now; an exciting but necessary journey with the aim of transforming humanitarian action through innovation and to realise more economic and societal impact at a lower cost. The need for humanitarian aid has increased and has become more and more complex. Demand for impact to tackle humanitarian challenges has therefore never been greater. And a transformation is necessary to come with new solutions, increase efficiency, and make effective use of available resources. To be better prepared in a faster manner in case a humanitarian disaster strikes.
Fortunately, there was a growing range of individuals, intrapreneurs, and initiatives that are trying to meet these challenges, putting those who need it the most in the front row: NGOs are increasing their collaboration
with unusual partners such as universities, the start-up community is focusing more on impact, and corporates are sharing their R&D capabilities as their social responsibility.
As this coalition started growing,
we were joined by very talented
people in the DCHI team, including many who had worked for humanitarian and social-impact organisations. Starting a new community without grant money is a tricky business. The casualty rate is very high. Like all organisations and initiatives, DCHI had problems to overcome – but you know what? Those good and talented people worked their socks off, worked as a team, and validated their processes and innovation methods. They showed confidence and patience to guide the accelerator programme participants through every step of the innovation cycle, and that included dealing with each challenging craving for old habits that might have arisen.
Even more remarkable is that, as the coalition has grown, we continued to be blessed
with talented people who are willing to
work together for the benefit of everybody. The recent and continuing pandemic has adversely affected humanitarian needs, the organisations around us, and us a individuals. The Coalition and the DCHI team, has shown the same willingness to help that was evident in the early days. So, congratulations for achieving so much in these past 5 years! I’m proud of the coalition but particularly proud and grateful to be associated with its people.
You Are The Coalition
Suzanne Laszlo