Qatar RC’s 3D innovation model for the Syrian refugee response in Lebanon

18/11/2016

There has been a lot of talk of innovation within humanitarian organizations lately. But while innovation is indeed needed in the humanitarian sector, particular attention has to be given to innovation solutions that pay (particularly regarding beneficiaries). In this article we argue that in order to change the culture of non-profit organizations (rather than merely their programs), and subsequently improve service provision to beneficiaries, it is essential to create a complementary, upgradeable and agile innovation infrastructure as opposed to innovating for innovation’s sake. We also show the benefits of using three-dimensional strategies to achieve three-dimensional objectives and harvest triple-win scenarios. We provide examples from Qatar Red Crescent Society's experience in Lebanon regarding winterization operations for Syrian refugees (mainly how the 4-in-1 sleeping bags, and Internal Thermal Insulation projects were created and implemented).