With so many difficult challenges and so many people to help, it is tempting to run with the first feasible solution. Time is often short and moving quickly is necessary. There may be pressure from donors, solutions may have been predetermined by leadership, or there may be legacy solutions in
Some of the best-laid plans can get tripped up in implementation, and deeply engaging beneficiaries in the implementation phase can help ease the way. Following are benefits to co-implementation and an example. Benefits to co-implementation An Example A U.S.-based NGO focuses on sustainable crop irrigation in arid climates. They have
An Empathy Map provides a rich understanding of a person’s experience with your program. It can help you to see what is under the surface for your beneficiaries as they engage with your program. Created in partnership with beneficiaries, it is a powerful tool to support innovation and evolution of
Co-designing with your audience brings their stories, goals, challenges, and creativity into humanitarian programs. If programs support people who are vulnerable, special care must be taken to ensure the emotional and psychological safety of your co-designers (your audience!). Additionally, there are power dynamics at play that humanitarian practitioners must mitigate
Many humanitarian organizations support support people who are vulnerable. They may have experienced trauma, oppression, or disempowerment. Co-designing solutions meant for them can be an incredibly empowering experience. However, special care must be taken to ensure the emotional and psychological safety of your co-designers. Helpful principles are below. Create safe
Innovation happens in the humanitarian space when dedicated practitioners design creative solutions to society’s trickiest problems. UNHCR dispelled myths of humanitarian innovation that get in the way. https://www.unhcr.org/innovation/5-myths-humanitarian-innovation/
Kyle Zimmer from the Forbes Nonprofit Council shared how Human-Centered Design can help in the social sector. 1) Establish the true need through data- and yes, insights gained from empathy research are data. Really rich data. 2) Test ongoing market viability with data from the field. Understanding how well or
During humanitarian emergencies, resources, life-saving information, and support are often provided via mobile channels. If you are in the midst of an emergency and happen to also have a disability, then getting access to resources via mobile technology can be difficult. Check out this project done in 2020 in Nairobi,
Human-centered programming is an approach to solving challenging problems in deep partnership with your audience. Each person is the expert on their own life. Partnering with your audience brings their stories, their goals, their challenges, and their creativity into your programs. It will both challenge and inspire you as you
The Center for Design Kindness is so pleased to share new human-centered design and programming resources created especially for humanitarian practitioners. Our new Handbook for Humanitarian Practitioners will help you determine whether human-centered programming is right for your organization. Think through how co-design, co-implementation, and co-evaluation can help you improve
Center for Design Kindness 