Between 2004 and 2013, there was a 430% increase in global funding requirements for humanitarian appeals, while the number of people affected nearly doubled.
are under increasing pressure to cut spending
more than half of the world’s refugees live in urban areas
In the aftermath of a disaster, restoring connectivity and the cellular network has become as important as providing life-saving assistance
local civil-society groups, private-sector companies and volunteer networks is expanding the reach of humanitarian work
A small group of government donors provides nearly 70% of humanitarian funding, and the bulk goes to a few large international organizations and NGOs.
diverse in nature,
unpredictable
high-pressure, rapidly changing operations, often in insecure and dangerous conditions, relief workers have little space to try out new ideas.
increasing scrutiny and criticism from the public
humanitarians are increasingly turning to businesses and the private sector to learn how to be innovative and better manage innovation
using social media for needs assessment, community-led risk mapping, crisis insurance, mobile money, local production of relief supplies with 3D printers, and so on
require unprecedented collaboration between humanitarian organizations, governments and businesses.