Practical Insights on Innovation

The Rise and Fall of Innovation Labs in International Development

The Rise and Fall of Innovation Labs in International Development

Published on: Mar 16 2023 by Guest Writer - 12 Comments
“Innovation” has become a hugely popular word in the humanitarian and development sectors over the last 10 or 15 years. And amongst NGOs, UN agencies, and bilateral...
5 Things Humanitarian Innovators Can Learn From the Private Sector

5 Things Humanitarian Innovators Can Learn From the Private Sector

Published on: Feb 17 2022 by Guest Writer - Comments Off on 5 Things Humanitarian Innovators Can Learn From the Private Sector
While simplified stories of success from the private sector are often unhelpful for humanitarian innovators, there are things that we can learn from entrepreneurial...
6 Reasons Why We Keep Failing at Digital Development Interventions

6 Reasons Why We Keep Failing at Digital Development Interventions

Published on: Feb 03 2022 by Guest Writer - 10 Comments
Clearing out boxes of old books and reports recently, I was struck by how many ICT4D initiatives there have been over the last 20 years, many of which have simply...
It is Time to Break Out of the Innovation Silo

It is Time to Break Out of the Innovation Silo

Published on: Oct 18 2018 by Guest Writer - 4 Comments
As we know all too well, the pace of progress is falling far short of both the desperate needs in the world and the ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals....
7 Ways We Can Scale ICT4D Pilotitis

7 Ways We Can Scale ICT4D Pilotitis

Published on: Oct 09 2013 by Wayan Vota - 8 Comments
One overarching theme from the recent Mobiles! Conference was the need to get past pilotitis – the too many small projects that never scale, dying the day...
4 Learnings About Access to Information in Uganda

4 Learnings About Access to Information in Uganda

Published on: Jun 14 2013 by Guest Writer - 1 Comment
Beyond Access recently visited Uganda to learn more about local development priorities, how people are accessing information, and libraries. It was a fascinating...
The Choice Between Facebook and Running Water Isn’t Obvious

The Choice Between Facebook and Running Water Isn’t Obvious

Published on: Jan 07 2013 by Aaron Mason - 2 Comments
Over the past several years two seemingly independent ideas have been gaining traction: New technology allows developing nations to leapfrog over traditional growth...
Failure is the F-Word in International Development

Failure is the F-Word in International Development

Published on: Nov 19 2012 by Wayan Vota - Comments Off on Failure is the F-Word in International Development
On Friday night, I organized the third annual Fail Faire DC to celebrate failure as a mark of innovation and risk-taking. Check out the photos and Twitter stream...