The Big Why
Proven ideas often remain trapped in isolated projects, final evaluations, or dormant toolkits because there is no structured mechanism for agencies to adopt and operationalize solutions that already exist. Expertise in innovation is difficult to discover and local actors struggle to find credible partners and tools. The result is chronic reinvention, duplication, resource waste, and lost time in crises.
What will change?
Creates market transparency and faster matchmaking; improves ROI and scalability of proven innovations by increasing adoption, helps local actors identify context-fit options and contacts. Will benefit frontline NGOs, governments, donors seeking scalable options, humanitarian entrepreneurs and researchers looking for partners.
What the idea involves
Innovations Catalogue: Standardised profiles (problem, context, evidence level, costs, implementation notes, contacts) with filters by hazard, sector, and geography.
Evidence Layer: Links to studies, briefs, and data; confidence ratings; replication status.
Expertise Directory: Individuals/organisations offering methods, facilitation, tech, or research tagged by language, region, availability.
Matchmaking Tools: Digital features to connect people, ‘Request support’ workflow to tailor the connection ask; partnership expression of interest structured forms where potential collaborators can formally express interest in partnering on an idea, research, or innovation; calendar of learning events; and adoption support packages (training curriculum, procurement templates, M&E reporting templates, SoPs, workflows).
Financing & Incentives Layer: Donor-backed Adoption Grants (small, fast, low-friction). Recognition programs for agencies who adopt collaboratively
Learning & Feedback Loop: Every adoption generates new implementation notes, published back into the Marketplace. Creates a live learning engine rather than static “best practice.”
Stewardship: sunset policy for outdated entries.
What would it take to deliver it?
Delivery process: Platform build + data partnerships; phased ingestion beginning with willing contributors.
Structure: Host under a neutral convener with governance board.
Scope & timeline: MVP in 6 months; scale content over 2 years.
Staffing needs: Product, content editors, curators, outreach, data engineer.
Partnerships required: Innovation funds, HDX-style data partners, universities.
Key capacities: Curation, UX, evidence grading, community moderation.
Where it stands and what's next?
Stage: High demand, low current supply; existing efforts are directories, not adoption systems
Immediate needs: Evaluate usefulness (what problems is it solving for whom?) and sustainability (level of effort to maintain the information current and relevant). Needs to be linked with a wider initiative for acceptance and traction like Idea #4 The Boring Revolution.
Opportunities to get involved
Innovators to submit profiles; funders to back curation; research groups to link evidence.