Humanitarian Innovation at the Netherlands Red Cross

Abstract

This report shows the process and result of a graduation project at the Netherlands Red Cross (NLRC). In their search to improve the humanitarian system, innovation is necessary. However, the Netherlands Red Cross faces challenges associated with time, resources, culture and methodologies to execute a research regarding the integration of innovation into the organisation. Based on this problem the following research question was formulated:

“How can humanitarian innovation at the Netherlands Red Cross be improved?”

To answer this research question, two ethnographic studies were conducted in the context of the headquarters of the Netherlands Red Cross and Red Cross operation on Sint Maarten. Ethnographic research is a qualitative research method in which you observe, interact and empathise with the topic that is being researched. It is mainly used to gain a deep understanding of the context when dealing with highly complex problems.

Ethnographic Study 1
The first ethnographic study took place at the headquarters of the Netherlands Red Cross, involving methods such as observations and interviews. The research resulted in a general understanding of the way of working at the NLRC. Furthermore, multiple bottlenecks of innovation were identified: Donor structure, organisational silos and project proposals.

Ethnographic Study 2
The second ethnographic study was conducted on Sint Maarten. The island, located in the hurricane prone Caribbean, was hit by hurricane Irma in September 2017. The Red Cross responded and provided relief aid to the inhabitants of Sint Maarten. The field visit, which had a focus on disaster preparedness, allowed research into the programming of the Red Cross on Sint Maarten. The following insights were found:

Design principles
The Red Cross should follow the the following five design principles; (1) embrace a holistic approach; (2) pivot the existing situation; (3) ensure knowledge is transferred; (4) use a context specific approach and; (5) use a phase specific approach.

Organisational insights
Through collaboration, the missing identified qualities: creativity, ideation, speed, hands-on approach and decisiveness, can be implemented into (future) projects.

Concept
The concept, ‘Community Based Data Collection’, that was developed for this thesis consists of three different phases: preparation, quick response and long-term benefits. Each neighbourhood will have a local ‘data collector’ with knowledge of the community, which will gather relevant data for the three different phases.

Preparation
• Identify the most vulnerable people in the communities by mapping the neighbourhoods;
• Use data to estimate the quantity of relief good necessary per community, and;
• Identify and map valuable capacities on the island for a ‘sharing economy (relief operation)’.

Response
• Use data from the preparation phase to deliver appropriate and focussed aid;
• Use a communication system (e.g. pop-up wifi) to provide communication possibilities for both beneficiaries and the Red Cross, and;
• Use real time data to optimize relief aid.

Long-term benefits
• Identify and map structural problems on Sint Maarten;
• Provide information to specialized organisations in order to solve these problems, and;
• Create a financial independent project by having a ‘data based business model’.