Best wishes for 2017 from the GHL!

As 2016 comes to an end the Global Humanitarian Lab (GHL) team would like to wish you peace, joy and harmony in the coming year. More than six months ago we were only a concept, and we are proud that our idea has materialized progressively with the support of our founding organizations, governments, and partners. As a broker, demand aggregator and facilitator, the GHL accelerates the introduction of innovative solutions across three humanitarian families (the UN, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and non-governmental organizations). Our goal is to reduce duplication and increase the speed and quality of humanitarian services. 

Starting in September 2016, the GHL Steering Committee (constituted by members of innovation units of Handicap International, ICRC, IFRC, Médecins Sans Frontières, Terre des Hommes, UNHCR, UNOCHA, and WFP) has met every 15 days to identify common challenges and projects to be taken forward with the support of the GHL. Currently, the GHL is actively involved in three innovative projects, and has provided the space and facilitation for sharing several other initiatives amongst members. In addition, three start-ups (two in Geneva and one in Singapore) working on humanitarian solutions have received initial support from the GHL by way of coaching and financial investment.

Today, we look towards 2017 with the excitement of moving forward with a clear roadmap to accomplish, and many other opportunities to seize. We will keep building bridges and enabling interactions to make and accelerate common innovative solutions between affected communities and humanitarian actors through our GHL nodes in San Francisco and Singapore, as well as our upcoming nodes in Dubai and Kigali along with our Fab Lab and Academic overlays.