The Red Cross and Red Crescent's Principled Approach to Innovation.

In the future, humanitarian challenges are set to further intensify. Armed conflicts, natural disasters and health crises, compounded by population growth, climate change and rapid urbanization, are putting more lives at stake and prolonging suffering. These humanitarian stressors compromise human development gains, including poverty reduction and economic growth, throughout the world. Alongside growing needs, the cost of international humanitarian aid has more than tripled in the last 10 years, while many traditional assistance mechanisms are proving to be ill-suited and inefficient in responding to the changing socio-economic contexts.
Given the unprecedented pace at which humanitarian needs and the cost of meeting those needs are growing, humanitarians face the challenge of becoming more agile and adapting operations to fulfill their missions.
Traditionally, humanitarians are slow to adapt to change, yet in the face of these challenges, many organizations are increasingly compelled to explore the concept of innovation to improve the humanitarian system and enhance the delivery of assistance and protection. Innovation provides a vehicle for change and a process for improvement as organizations strive to strengthen effectiveness and broaden their reach. Humanitarians can leverage the innovation process to anticipate and prepare for future challenges, to support communities as they develop and become self-sustaining, and to improve effectiveness and impact.