{"id":3276,"date":"2015-12-10T08:38:11","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T08:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/innovation.unhcr.org\/?p=3276"},"modified":"2017-06-29T09:55:00","modified_gmt":"2017-06-29T09:55:00","slug":"how-to-effectively-convene-humanitarian-innovators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unhcr.org\/innovation\/how-to-effectively-convene-humanitarian-innovators\/","title":{"rendered":"How to effectively convene humanitarian innovators"},"content":{"rendered":"

UNHCR Innovation had the pleasure of attending the <\/span>Global Innovations for Children and Youth Summit – \u2018Start-Up to Scale-Up<\/span><\/a>; hosted by UNICEF and Finland\u2019s Ministry for Foreign Affairs last week. This wonderful event brought together 400 of UNICEF\u2019s friends, and what Chris Fabian, UNICEF Innovation Co-lead, described as \u201cunusual suspects\u201d to talk about taking startup to scale and reflect on what the future holds for Children and Youth. <\/span><\/p>\n

UNHCR has held several of its own Education & Innovation convening events over the past several years – from JAMs to Bootcamps – \u00a0and so I know that any event with the word \u201cinnovation\u201d is often met with high expectations and some degree of initial cynicism. <\/span><\/p>\n

For one, there is often an expectation that an \u201cinnovation event\u201d will be different from a traditional conference, providing enhanced opportunities to network and learn about cutting edge-practices and programs. <\/span><\/p>\n

But are these expectations often met? <\/span><\/p>\n

How can conveners design gatherings to meet our innovation expectations? <\/span><\/p>\n

This Summit surpassed my expectations, which is hard to do. <\/span><\/p>\n

In light of this, I thought it would be helpful to reflect on what UNICEF did well, and suggest 7 things that anyone planning an Innovation summit should consider: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"UNICEF3\"<\/p>\n

1) Bring together the right people<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

This is probably the most important and the hardest part of any gathering. This Summit was invite-only and targeted a diverse range of actors: not just those working in the development or humanitarian space, but also scientists, filmmakers, the private sector, and others. <\/span><\/p>\n

UNICEF ensured they had the right amount of \u201cthe choir\u201d present; enough to keep the energy positive and the language common. But then they looked for the outliers who could provide unique perspectives and ask provocative questions. <\/span><\/p>\n

NASA shared some unique perspectives during their session on their approaches to Innovation, which \u00a0highlighted important lessons that could be applied to humanitarian innovators. In particular they highlighted: <\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The importance of simplifying complex challenges to encourage engagement from diverse stakeholders. For example NASA\u2019s use of <\/span>cartoons<\/span><\/a> to engage children in the process of space exploration. <\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Innovation doesn\u2019t have to happen rapidly. \u00a0This was demonstrated through a 2015 mission approved for Jupiter that won\u2019t be completed until 2030 because of the preparation required. <\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Spinoff outcomes\/solutions are an important part of the innovation process. Over 1700 technologies have evolved from NASA inventions; including everything from the digital camera to heart pumps.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    2) Keep it dynamic<\/b><\/h2>\n

    UNICEF <\/span>didn\u2019t leave this to chance. They brought in the professionals. RedZebra was hired to ensure that an inviting enabling environment was created; and they crafted this beautifully through shared musical moments. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The opening session set the tone (no-pun intended) with a simple, non-invasive request for the audience to join together with banging the colour tubes that sat on their chairs. This started subtly, but as people\u2019s defenses started to drop, and a unified rhythm started to rise through the crowd\u2019s beats, the mass soon gave way to hip swaying, cheering and an audible bond had formed between the 400-some crowd as we created something together. I mean, talk about a way to launch a summit! <\/span><\/p>\n

    It ended just as brilliantly. This time participants encircled a performance space; nestled together, clutching musical instruments and eagerly awaiting dance-cues from the RedZebra crew, who choreographed a memorable musical finally. All of this inspired from an earlier musical performance from a colleague in Nepal and a Spoken-Word performance from a colleague from Sierra Leone. <\/span><\/p>\n

    It was a beautiful culmination of the past two days and a genuine celebration of the people, the talent, and the aims that united those participating. <\/span><\/p>\n

    3) Remove the formalities<\/b><\/h2>\n

    5 minutes into the introduction, Chris Fabian invited people to remove their ties. A joke for some, but an informal setting makes for an inviting environment for innovation. <\/span><\/p>\n

    By removing the connotations of the formal – the business as usual – the summit provided a setting in which hierarchies were removed and everyone – be it CEO, director, or student – could engage on an equal footing. Everyone\u2019s thoughts and opinions were listened to and encouraged. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Removing formalities wasn\u2019t just about eliminating hierarchies.t was also about changing the state of play; pushing people to move outside their regular norms of professional interactions. They say the \u201cAh-Ha Moments\u201d usually come during casual encounters – drinks, lunch breaks, or the ranting we can only do with friends. By removing the formalities,the Summit simulated, and stimulated, these \u201cfriendly forums\u201d for creativity. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The success in removing the formalities was achieved through the details. They didn\u2019t have an agenda; they had a \u201cgame plan\u201d. They didn\u2019t impress with fancy food; they opted for the delicious and nutritious. In fact, the first lunch, was based on the Finnish free-school meal program, with primary students picking their favourite for us to try. It was a cheesy casserole with Ketchup, and I must admit it was good. <\/span><\/p>\n

    All of these details paid off,reinforcing the inviting atmosphere that enabled people to connect and collaborate. <\/span><\/p>\n

    4) Foster the right type of networking <\/b><\/h2>\n

    While this does relate to the \u2018no-formalities\u2019 approach, there were details in the Summit program that enabled everyone to highlight his\/her background and interest, without the standard round of introductions. This was largely facilitated through a visual wall display, which included photos, twitter handles, and written highlights for each individual. <\/span><\/p>\n

    There was also plenty of downtime, or rather time to mingle. Participants didn\u2019t feel rushed to immediately head to the next session; there were well-timed breaks for those who wanted to continue the conversations or start new ones. Summit organizers also included time and a physical location during the last session for those who just needed extra time to discuss. <\/span><\/p>\n

    The panelists and organizers also set an important tone. Rather than rush off stage or leave early, they participated in the Summit and were present at every coffee break, chatting with the group. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    5) Inspire through storytelling <\/b><\/h2>\n

    A constant theme throughout the Summit was the importance of the narrative in all aspects of the innovation process. There was a lively and youthful panel on Day 2, that debated the current development narratives and the importance of who tells the story. <\/span><\/p>\n

    While discourse and debates on \u201cThe Other,” \u201cPoverty Porn,” or \u201cTrue Meaning of Authenticity” are certainly not new, I was captivated because this session was communicated through personal narratives. Each panelist was a storyteller who beautifully articulated his\/her point-of-view through lived experiences, all the while politely (yet engagingly) challenging others.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The most inspiring session I attended included two panelists. Maria Amelie, a journalist, who claimed her voice and identity by sharing her story of searching for asylum in Finland; and Hani Tarabichi, a professor who taught entrepreneurship in Syrian and shared his journey about finding his way back into the classroom. Both stories were told from the heart, but had clear messages for the audience to walk away with. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Two particular learning points from this session were: <\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The importance of education in providing hope and opportunities for the future. Both Maria and Hani were able to develop communities through educational institutions that helped them develop a sense of belonging as well as enabled them to foster and utilize practical skills to contribute to their new communities. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. An interesting correlation (highlighted by Maria) between the ethos of entrepreneurs and refugees – suggesting that refugees make great entrepreneurs because of:<\/span>\n