Time is a critical resource in humanitarian crises. We invest time in preparation and planning. We race time to reach the people in greatest need. We spend time wisely so we can have the greatest impact.

Now, we are asking for your time.

Hourglass connects the sharpest minds to the world’s most complex humanitarian issues. We are seeking experts in innovation, strategic foresight, and futures to advise our frontline decision-makers.

Just one hour of your time could help our leaders, staff and volunteers unpick a knotty problem, uncover new solutions, or overcome a barrier to change.

How does it work?

Hourglass is a self-organising network. Humanitarian staff and volunteer leaders from all over the world submit questions and challenges focused on their strategic priorities, burning issues and questions about innovation and the future.

Experts from around the world – people like you, with skills and experience in diverse sectors and from different backgrounds – sign up to donate an hour or more of their time.

We then match the National Society staff to the most appropriate expert. The pair are introduced and then organise their own meeting to examine the burning question.

You can decide how much time you want to invest and which of your skills and expertise you want to offer. Then once matched with a Humanitarian staff member or volunteer leader, you can help them with things such as;

• thinking through approaches to innovation
• applying futures and foresight methods
• understanding new trends and their implications
• approaching a problem from a different angle
• exposing them to new networks, thinkers and actors

Why are we doing this?

We are the world’s largest humanitarian network – reaching 160 million people globally each year – but we know we do not have all the answers. We cannot find the most innovative solutions to the complex humanitarian crisis we face now, and in the future, if we act alone.

We believe in the power of networks and new perspectives, but we know many humanitarians can’t access new networks or are too overwhelmed to invest the time in developing them

There are many people both inside and outside our organisation and our sector with brilliant ideas, insight, and a desire to help solve humanitarian crises.

We hope that by linking these experts directly to our decision-makers, we can unlock new ideas, new perspectives, and new partnerships.

Personal connection, real challenges and space to talk honestly and openly are key. We will never unlock the full power of humanity in conferences, journals or policy documents. We are building a new way to tackle global issues.

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