Workshop in Jordan: Exploring the Future of Humanitarian Research and Innovation

On November 17, 2025, we kicked off the first national dialogue session on the future of research and innovation in humanitarian action in Al-Azraq, Jordan.

The session was organized by the Response Innovation Lab in partnership with Al-Azraq Alive, and we were honored to have the Mayor of Al-Azraq join us, this gathering came as part of the Jordan Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) activities.

Our goal was to make real use of the foresight toolkit developed by Elrha and create a space where colleagues working across the humanitarian sector could reflect together on the trends, challenges, and opportunities that might shape our work in the coming years.

Throughout the session, participants explored a range of emerging challenges and future scenarios, looking closely at how they might take shape in the local context. We also worked on ideas that could strengthen the humanitarian system and help it adapt to the fast changes we’re already seeing. Participants especially enjoyed the creative exercises, which pushed everyone to think differently, imagine new possibilities, and reframe solutions in more innovative ways.

Some of the strongest ideas that emerged included establishing a media center in Al-Azraq to improve coordination between humanitarian actors, expanding the use of renewable energy to enhance sustainability in services and infrastructure, and investing in building people’s skills in artificial intelligence so they’re better prepared for the future and its fast-evolving demands.

These dialogues are designed to bring diverse voices into the conversation, support local leadership, and build a shared understanding that will guide the next sessions in Jordan and in other countries. Ultimately, they contribute to the wider global discussion on humanitarian innovation and the essential role of communities in shaping the future of this work.