We have successfully delivered the first round of the training series under the Oxfam Novib program “Humanitarian System Transformation through Local Humanitarian Leadership”! Together, we unpacked the structural challenges around capacity and risk sharing, and explored how innovation can be a practical tool to rethink the way we work — from the ground up.

What can you learn? A breakdown of ecosystem components and their relevance to innovation in humanitarian settings; Case studies from Syria and Uganda offering real-world examples of ecosystem mapping and engagement; Tools and frameworks from the RIL to help practitioners identify and strengthen key relationships, flows, and enabling conditions in their contexts….and more!

Call for Ugandan- and Refugee-Led Tech & AI Innovations! Applications are open for the Uganda 2025 RIL Innovation Support Cohort, a 5-day bootcamp designed to strengthen the capacity of innovators working in humanitarian response. Check out our requirements and apply now!

We will see you in Istanbul from October 15 to 17! This year, we will explore together “Humanitarian Systems Transformation” and “Climate Adaptation in Fragile Settings”.

As StartupBlink’s Ecosystem Partner, Somali Response Innovation Lab is happy to share that Somalia reclaims its spot in the Global Top 100 Startup Ecosystem, ranked by StartupBlink in 2025. Somalia now ranks 13th place in Africa and 4th in Eastern Africa!

Response Innovation Lab hosted a session on “The Missing Link: Connecting Community-Led Innovation Initiatives with National and Global Social Innovation Ecosystems in Humanitarian Settings“ in Geneva, on March 26.

The highlights of Response Innovation Lab’s 2024, across the globe.

Recognising the challenge brought by food insecurity, the Syria Response Innovation Lab (RIL), in collaboration with Field Ready Middle East, World Vision Syria Response (WVSR), and the Food Security Cluster (FS Cluster), organized two back-to-back workshops—one in Gaziantep, Türkiye, and another in Northwest Syria at the RIL. These workshops provided a platform for frontline responders to voice challenges, exchange insights, and collaboratively design solutions, fostering local ownership.

Join us online or in person for a 90-minute session to explore the current social innovation ecosystem and pathways between local communities in areas affected by crisis and the national humanitarian and innovation hubs.

Watch the impact video telling the story of OGOW Health - supported by RIL - and how it contributes to heath care in Somalia.

As a partnership with Elrha and with the support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, the Humanitarian Innovation Forum brought together a diverse group of actors to discuss the challenges facing humanitarian innovations and and to envision how the ecosystem could better support the communities.

RIL, in partnership with Gray Dot Catalyst, planned and facilitated the “Creating Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge Innovation Basecamp” in Nairobi, Kenya together with 40+ innovators.

SomRIL received the Award “Best Accelerator Ecosystem” from StartupBlink recognising Somalia's top performance in the number of accelerators among the seed African ecosystems.

Insights from our MENA Manager, Ruba Hijazi, on Social Entrepreneurship and the collaborations between NGOs and social enterprises.

Your voice matters! This is your chance to contribute to shaping impactful solutions to address food insecurity in Northwest Syria. Let’s collaborate to tackle the region’s most pressing issues and create meaningful change.

The second event of our Thoughtcast series took place on October 27 in Jordan! During the gathering, the participants discussed the duplication of efforts and explored the challenges within the impact ecosystem.

How did we conduct the convener for challenge mapping in NW Syria? Read our full Convener Report to know more about how RIL works on the ground.

How do we generate and share evidence? Everything explained in one video!

What are some less-discussed topics covered in RILx24? Have a look at our high-level overview of the key lessons learned.

We have been committed to establishing the Innovation WASH Club as a coordinated and dedicated platform. The convener participants, now collectively committed as part of the Club, will mobilize their resources and bring innovations to enhance the WASH response in NW Syria.