On 16–18 August 2026, the Response Innovation Lab (RIL) and Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA), with the support of Oxfam under the HST-LHL Programme, delivered the three-day “Humanitarian Innovation Basics: A Journey to Impact” training in Aden, Yemen.

The Somali Response Innovation Lab (SomRIL), in collaboration with Field Ready funded by Australian Aid, delivered a  practical training on Surprise Soap production for 20 women entreprenuers in Hargeisa, Somaliland combining technical skills development with a broader ambition to strengthen local manufacturing capacity for humanitarian and essential products.

An innovation story from WaterKit, a U-RIL supported initiative.

How storytelling is inspiring Syrian children to protect their environment? Check out the story of Lamiaa, an innovator supported through our Made by Syrians program.

Our partner Field Ready Middle East published the report following the Challenge Mapping workshop under RISE Syria.

Are you ready to lead the change with your innovative solution for Yemen? Submit your idea and receive the support to scale up the impact!

Are you ready to lead the change with your innovative solution for Yemen? Submit your idea and receive the support to scale up the impact!

What does locally-led innovation look like in one of the world's most challenging humanitarian contexts? RaySat offers a compelling answer. Built by two Syrian innovators after eight years of fieldwork, RaySat translates satellite data into simple, practical irrigation recommendations for smallholder farmers — helping them save water, cut costs, and improve yields even in low-connectivity environments.

This short documentary is under the Social Plastics for Economic Development project led by Response Innovation Lab, together with Engineers without Borders Norway, World Vision Somalia, and the Somali Resilience Programme (host of Somali Response Innovation Lab), with funding support from Innovation Norway.

Over 10–11 June 2026, the Uganda Response Innovation Lab (U-RIL) and Makerere University Innovation and Incubation Centre (MIIC) delivered two days of specialised training. marking the start of a new collaboration between the two innovation champions in the ecosystem around innovation monitoring, evidence generation, and learning.

We’re excited to launch InvoLearn, a chat-based learning experience designed to help humanitarian workers build core innovation skills — anytime, anywhere, even with limited connectivity. Developed by SyRIL, InvoLearn offers interactive, self-paced micro-learning grounded in recognized humanitarian innovation frameworks.

An inspiring story of Navjot and The Washing Machine Project, and his messages to the next-gen innovators and the broader humanitarian innovation ecosystem.

The Syria Response Innovation Lab (SyRIL) invites Syrian innovators, entrepreneurs, start-ups, students, and professionals to submit their creative solutions to humanitarian challenges.

 This initiative seeks to bridge entrepreneurial thinking with humanitarian needs—amplifying innovative ideas made by Syrians, for Syrians, and connecting them with global decision-makers, donors, and innovation agencies.

Watch the recording of the IGNITE Food Systems Challenge Demo Day to hear from the innovators: an opportunity for you to take away the lessons learned from our community innovators and gain insights on Somalia’s food systems!

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!

Inspired by the term “Ddokolo,” a slang word symbolizing resilience and cultural identity from Northern Uganda, the enterprise has grown under the stewardship of Ms. Winfred Nanungi. Today, Ddokolo is a guiding light of hope, blending innovation, community development, and social impact into its core operations.

A story showcasing how U-RIL partners with social innovators in the community to drive positive changes.

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.