Section outline

  • Welcome

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      WELCOME TO THE INNOVATION HUB

      Here in the Innovation Hub you will find inspiration, information and tools for doing, managing and leading innovation.

      If you are new to the topic, you can start your innovation learning journey by checking out our online introductory course called "Intro to Innovation". 

      Click on the video and listen to Christina Dahl Jensen, DCA's Senior Innovation Advisor, introduce the Innovation Hub and the online introductory course on innovation.




    • go to 'Managing Innovation' section

      See how a good managed ecosystem is the foundation of innovation

      button leading to Cases

      Get inspired by some selected case studies and see other innovation projects 

      Button leading to Tools

      Go through an innovation process with the help of these tools

      Button leading to Innovation Fund

      Innovation is not for free - see how your project can be funded


  • Managing Innovation

    • In this section, you will find food for thought on managing innovation. 

      In DCA we apply an ecosystems approach to what elements need to be in balance at an organisational level for innovation to thrive and survive. This is part of DCA's approach to managing innovation at a global level and country office level.

      There are several frameworks suitable for managing innovation. In the below video you will be introduced to an ecosystems thinking approach to managing innovation from an organisational perspective.

      This is to be able to do and manage innovation in a strategic manner where we utilise our resources best possible.


    • THE FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATION

      DCA’s commitment to innovation is based on the understanding that the most effective ways of bringing about the changes we want to see in the world might not be known to us yet. 

      For innovation to take place on purpose, we need to foster an ecosystem of innovation enablers. The video below introduces the innovation ecosystem.

      We all have a role to play in the ecosystem, whether we are managers, staff, or partners. Watch the video and think about how you contribute to the innovation ecosystem!

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    • Thoughts or ideas?

      If you have any questions or would like to discuss how to create the most conducive conditions and environment for innovation, please contact Senior Innovation Advisor, Christina Dahl Jensen, chdj@dca.dk.



  • Cases & Inspiration

    • In this section, you can read case stories about innovation projects. You can either flip through the slideshow to get some inspiration or check out the external resources in the bottom of the page.


    • Let's look at some of the ways, innovation takes place in DCA. Flip through the slideshow below to read some examples
    • Cases for inspiration Interactive Content


    • Looking for more inspiration?


      Check out some selected innovation resources below:


      booklet containing all innovation projects funded by the Innovation Fund 2018-2022

    • Innovation case booklet File

  • Innovation Process & Tools

    • In this section you will find tools to guide the innovation process from research to idea generation to scaling. The slideshow below describes the stages of an innovation process. You can use the slideshow to determine where you are currently at in your innovation project. 

      When you have identified which stage you are in, you can find tools for each stage further down on the page.

    • The innovation process

    • Flip through the slides below to get a better understanding of the innovation process - both individual steps and as a whole.
    • Double Diamond model Interactive Content

    • innovation tools

    • The innovation tools cover each step of the innovation process illustrated above - from preparation to implementation and maintaining. When you have identified where in the process you are, scroll down on the page to find the tools categorised within this step.
      Click on the small tool icon to access the tool Tool

      Each tool is divided into three sections:

      1.  An introduction explaining why this tool may be relevant for you.

      2. A what-&-how section describing what the tool is and how to use it.

      3. A resource section where relevant resources are compiled to guide and support you further.




    • PREPARE

      Here is a tool that helps you with the initial steps of the preparatory phase, guiding you through necessary steps for you to start off you innovation journey on the right foot. 

      It introduces central elements to consider in the design of your innovation process and helps you with identifying important questions to ask in the preparatory phase of the innovation process. 

      This includes concretising the problem you are trying to solve, the key outcome you are trying to achieve, and what constraints you might need to consider.

      Tool image

      Preparation Checklist

      A list of relevant questions and elements to consider before furthering your understanding of the problem.




    • Understand

      Here are three tools that can help you broaden your horizon whether you want to solve a specific problem or have identified a possible area for development.

      Each of these methods urges you to spend a significant amount of time exploring and understanding the current state of your area of interest, your target group, as well as emerging trends in the field. 

      Importantly, they encourage you to look outside your team, organisation, or sector, to gain a more diversified understanding.

      Tool
      Sandbox Meetings

      Open meetings where participants explore and unfold the topic with external contributors.

      Tool
      Horizon Scan

      A foresight process focused on the early detection of signals as indicators of potential change.

      Tool
      Ethics Assessment

      A tool to help you determine whether your  innovation project is ethical.


    • DEFINE

      Here is a tool that can help you to zoom in on your understanding of the problem after having ensured that there is a real problem to address. 

      The tool encourages you to get concrete in order to develop a concise description of the identified  problem and the context, the need to take action as well as the potential consequences of inaction. 


      Tool

      Problem statement

      A tool to help you develop a short and concise description of the context, relevance and aim of the innovative solution.

      This tool is not finalised just yet. Stay tuned!



    • IDEATE

      Here is a tool that can help you get your ideation process off to a good start. The process of searching for the most viable and appropriate solution to a problem starts with having successful brainstorms that bring out a large quantity of diverse ideas.  

      Importantly, it gives you techniques on how to create the right environment to foster idea generation.



      Tool

      Brainstorm

      This tool provides you with tips and concrete methods on how to facilitate the most fruitful brainstorm session.

      This tool is not finalised just yet. Stay tuned!



    • TEST


      In this section you will find tools that can help you TEST

      In humanitarian and development settings we are used to implementing fully fledged projects. When working with innovation we are more interested in tools, techniques, and tactics designed to help us validate and test an idea quickly, safely, objectively, and accurately. We do this to have time and space to adjust our idea based on knowledge and to be able to mitigate risks in a secured environment. 


      Tool

      Pretotyping & Prototyping

      Tool

      Document learning

      Tool

      Assess whether to stop or continue

      These tool are not finalised just yet. Stay tuned!


    • IMPLEMENT & MAINTAIN


    • [In this section you will find tools that can help you IMPLEMENT and SCALE      ...]

      When you reach this stage, the innovation has shown the potential to be politically and logistically feasible, with demonstrable interest from scaling partners or a credible plan to raise capital for further work. Here you find tools to help you create scaling plans, and present and evaluate your innovation.


      Tool

      The Scaling Tool

      Tool

      Proof of Concept

      Tool

      Outcome Harvesting

      These tool are not finalised just yet. Stay tuned!


  • DCA's innovation fund

    • DCA believes that the most effective ways of bringing about change might not be known to us yet. For us, innovation is new or improved products, services, programmes or processes that create new value for stakeholders and contribute to delivering higher impacts for beneficiaries.

      The Innovation Fund is a risk-willing funding entity where we aim to create new solutions to old problems through inclusive and locally led processes.

      In 2018 the DCA Innovation Fund was launched with support from our SPA with Danida. 

      The fund finances innovative projects through flexible funds.
      From it's launch to 2023, the DCA Innovation Fund has supported more than 74 innovation initiatives in 18 different countries spanning across DCA’s global goals.

      Especially within climate adaptation, entrepreneurship, and livelihoods, a wide variety of innovation initiatives have been piloted and tested. Many of these are now integrated into normal programming.

    • Innovation Fund investments Interactive Content
    • Call for Proposal 2024 Page