“The current scale and complexity of needs and the trajectory of the humanitarian system is simply unsustainable. This necessitates an urgent and critical analysis of the manner in which response is designed; the way it is coordinated, the way it is implemented, and the way it is funded. Quite simply, we need to think and act differently”

The multiple sessions and diversity of audience brought a rich quality of conversations, the knowledge and experiences exchanged allowed participants to deepen the understanding of new ways of working and thinking but also to get inspiration and adopt similar approaches in their local contexts.

Discussions were encouraged to be practical and realistic, participants shared successes but also problems, shortcomings or even failures which built everybody’s confidence and a feeling of belonging to a community.

Centred around Innovation and Transformation, the summit particularly drove into thematic areas such as the following.

Organisational Change

“Change is not just about reacting to external forces. It is also about intentionally and proactively transforming our organisations. This transformation extends beyond adopting new tools or systems – it is about evolving our strategies, our mindsets, and our ways of working.”

• Costa Rican Red Cross, Ecuadorian Red Cross, Honduran Red Cross, Hong Kong Red Cross, Lesotho Red Cross and other National Societies sharing their narratives of the transformational journeys within their organisations, detailing experiments with new approaches, cultural shifts, programs, projects, and more.
• The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) reflecting on 11 Years of Innovation, explorations into social entrepreneurship models such as REDpreneur, initiatives to promote youth innovation, and digital and tech approaches.

Find out how some National Societies are transforming

• Honduran Red Cross on digital transformation: “It’s about changing our mindsets”
• COVID-19 innovations from National Societies that are here to stay
• Australian Red Cross’ CIO Brett Wilson talks about leadership and mentoring
• How Ecuadorian Red Cross is transforming climate action

Localising Innovation

“When we support local innovators, we leverage their expertise to enhance service delivery and more effective and sustainable use of available resources. Additionally, it opens doors to stronger partnerships, increased funding opportunities, and greater recognition for our organisations’ work.”

• Exploring Innovation Support Systems, strategies for building environments to foster local innovation, ways to strengthen our social innovation ecosystems, the benefits of private sector partnerships, and more.
• Winners of the Global Innovation Summit Challenges showcased their local innovations and projects, exemplifying how localised approaches can drive meaningful and sustainable change within their network.

Foresight Approaches

“What’s most important in the coming years is to recognize that there will be evolutions in our systems that will fundamentally change the way we operate”

Jamie Lesueur (watch the video)

• Experimenting with how to strategically explore potential future scenarios and their implications on humanitarian need and action. (Click here)
• A masterclass on Future and Foresight also provided specialised training for a select group of participants to support them to utilise these approaches in their NS.

Tech, Data and Digital Transformation

“It’s not to replace people, it’s not necessarily to replace processes, it’s to do more with what we have, help the people who more urgently need it”

• Japanese Red Cross partnership/collaboration with local organisations (such as Toyota) to develop a highly sophisticated hydrogen powered ambulance. Watch the video

• The Kenya Red Cross established a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) unit in 2019, utilising drones for a wide range of applications including search and rescue missions, risk mapping, videography, imagery, and cargo delivery. Read more
• APDRC and the Hong Kong Red Cross have developed VR-based disaster preparedness education content for teenagers using the Metaverse Platform. Watch the video; and Ecuadorian Red Cross shared Consentidos Project, which is enhancing public mental health care using Virtual Reality technology. Watch the video
• There are many opportunities brought by data and digital solutions and much to talk about AI-driven solutions. Topics ranged from demystifying AI to considering how AI could be used to support community health workers to applying it for large data collection projects. The result is more support for an IFRC AI working group. Practitioners using Chatbots in humanitarian contexts shared their experience, too – Watch the workshop “Chatbots: Are They Digital Litters?” and access the Research report from IFRC, The Engine Room, and the Global Disaster Preparedness Center. 
• Watch Michael Mawdsley’s studio interview about his journey and experience at the intersection of technology and blood services. 
• 510, an initiative from the Netherlands Red Cross, shared how data and digital solutions can help answer some of the networks’ challenges, from cash assistance to Community Engagement and Accountability and blended solutions.

Redefining Volunteering

“In light of the rapid changes in our world, it is essential that our volunteer efforts also evolve. Accepting change is not only about keeping up with the times, but also about ensuring that our service remains sustainable, resonant, and innovative.”

• Exploring new ways of volunteering within our network and understanding global volunteering trends. Both emerging technologies and the role of volunteering in a humanitarian context.
• The Kenya Red Cross Society shared its support with communities affected by Gender-Based Violence and the integration of the hearing-impaired community into volunteering, utilising shared community resources. Watch the video
• The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran introduced a volunteer management platform with gamification and AI, addressing modern challenges like climate change.
• GIS Innovative Volunteering Challenge Winners from the Philippine Red Cross, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, and Red Cross Society of China showcased their innovative volunteering projects happening within their respective National Societies. (Click on each National Society to watch their video).

Considerations

The need to learn from and collaborate with each other as a network

“This sharing of knowledge and experiences has not only enriched the overall conversation but also deepened our understanding of new ways of working and thinking”

• Korean Red Cross Society and Hong Kong Red Cross Virtual Reality technology and disaster management – are exploring ways to work together in developing these approaches in the future
• Japan Red Cross Society connected with the Saudi Red Crescent authority’s virtual hospital – they discovered that they had similar lines of work and  interest.
• Kenya Red Cross Society Innovation Lab exploring ways to help the Ecuador Red Cross scale its project on Positive Deviance in Childhood Bereavement.
• American Red Cross and 510 connected to explore future data collaborations.
• A special foresight working group was formed with interested practitioners from the network to share experiences, seek advice and develop new mechanisms to collaborate.