Startup Tuesday is a re-occuring event to inspire and connect with like-minded people in and around The Hague. This series of events is a collaboration among innovative hubs that aim to strengthen connections and support impact-driven entrepreneurship in The Hague, and with the series being virtual due to COVID-19 – far beyond The Hague. The Hague Humanity Hub invited three female humanitarian entrepreneurs – including Claire Barnhoorn (founder of Solvoz) – to discuss technology, innovation and humanitarian action. Moreover, they discussed their journey and drive to enable change.

Startup Tuesday The Hague

Tuesday November 17th 2020, Startup Tuesday The Hague organised their series virtually, with a spotlight on three female entrepreneurs of the Humanity Hub community. Claire Barnhoorn was one of them. The other two humanitarian enterprises were OurLoop – represented by Alex Carle – and AiiD – represented by Emma Lindlay. Last week, the three of them joined the virtual stage, to discuss what they set out to solve. What drives them into the entrepreneurial journey. The event kicked off with short presentations of each of the three entrepreneurs. About their organisation and journey, before a debate and Q&A session started with participation of the attending public.

The three organisations in a few words

The presentation of entrepreneurs kicked off with Claire Barnhoorn, explaining her humanitarian journey. From university, to MSF logistician, to digital humanitarian; all leading to founding Solvoz. Addressing several core problems requiring system change. Poor knowledge how solutions work, low visibility of local solutions, product dominated thinking, and complexity of markets and context. After that, she discussed Solvoz.

Solvoz

Additionally, it translates the needs of a response scenario into technical and non-technical requirements, which are suitable for response delivery in different contexts. The catalog is integrated with a procurement workflow (tendering). Solvoz actively allows for local procurement and innovation to be included, creating local economic benefits. In conclusion, Solvoz provides transparent, efficient and accountable procurement processes.

OurLoop

Loop is a digital platform where the needs and experiences of people receiving Aid (humanitarian or development) can help to shape the type and quality of services which are funded and delivered. It is a registered charity, providing an independent global digital platform that enables people to share their opinions in an open, transparent and safe manner. To improve the quality, responsiveness and appropriateness of current and future services, and to hold those with power accountable. Loop is running pilots in Zambia and the Philippines and will open up their services in more countries next year.

AiiD

In addition, proving identity should not affect an individual’s rights to privacy. As the world demands digital delivery of products and services, AiiD delivers privacy protecting toolkits for inclusion. Emma has extensive experience in digital identities, cybersecurity and digital trust. Coming from this background, she wanted to put her skills, extensive experience and drive to make an impact for all into humanitarian settings.

‘How to partner with the three of you?’

The host of the evening, Alexander Taillandier (community and communications lead at the Hague Humanity Hub) observed that all three of the entrepreneurs mentioned partnerships. Therefore, he asked the three entrepreneurs what is required to partner with them.

Emma explained that AiiD is actively looking for organisations who wish to join their growing network of organisations using biometrics safely. AiiD partners with financial institutions, governments, and healthcare organisations and their technical to transform how they deliver their services. Emma and her team guide customers on using biometrics effectively as part of their digitisation journey. You can contact AiiD through this link.

Alex from OurLoop explained about her journey. OurLoop is to extend its services to several other countries as well as expand their prototype version. Alex reached out to the audience for partners to spread the use and ability of OurLoop. If you are already in an area Loop is operational or have a wish to use it, see how to use the platform in your monitoring and evaluation processes, in your assessment visits and in your communications. You can contact OurLoop through this link.

Claire presented Solvoz as a technical infrastructure, a new eco-system for procurement, with built-in expert knowledge. Particularly, knowledge regarding technical and non-technical requirements, solutions, products and services. Therefore, making procurement easy, transparent, accountable for all; assuring responsible solutions with contextual fit. Solvoz is actively looking for funding (to expand the solutions catalog and service provision), partners for knowledge and markets, and organisations to test the beta platform (which goes live in December). If you wish to support with, for instance, your knowledge or network, please reach out to Solvoz.

Localisation and system change required in the sector

‘I heard “system change” a few times’, Alexander Taillandier prompted the debate with the remark that the speakers all mentioned this term and the need for it. Then, Alex requested to see in what way and how do you see from the current pandemic that will move towards longer term change requirements. Is this related and is it relevant to think about building back better?

Digitisation has brought many things, and being able to accelerate change. However, technology is not the answer. We have to address the core problems and deal with this in their context. Claire explained that the whole debate regarding localisation comes in here too.  

The overall objective of localisation is improved humanitarian response, ensuring access for all in need to fast, quality, impactful and sustainable humanitarian assistance that is efficient, effective and fit for purpose. Localisation is also about complementarity, which looks to a balance between local and international action in order to maximise the comparative advantages of both, and increase effectiveness of the humanitarian response in a given context. There are many great resources on localisation and the Grand Bargain.

Frequently, the outcome these days is a focus on staffing. Instead, Claire proposes to look at the system as a whole. For Solvoz this means localisation of supply chains and procurement too, as well as the ability to fund and support operational programs by (not via) local and community based organisations. That is one of the backbones of Solvoz itself, enabling the localisation of supply chains, open up knowledge of logistics-as-a-service and assure local contextual fit and criteria. Move away from heavy reliance on EU- or USA-centric supply chains, and enable (technical) infrastructure that allows for this organisational, procedural and funding wise. In summary, building trust through transparency and sharing.

How can an impact/tech startup partner with NGOs, to solve humanitarian challenges?

Claire (Solvoz) and Alex (OurLoop) were both very clear on this answer, assure you can contextualise your solution and innovation. Familiarise yourself to the context in which you wish to solve the envisaged challenge and with whom. Make sure you understand that challenge, including cultural, environmental, social, and so many other relevant criteria. Claire explained to think about ‘logistics, staffing, culture, transportation and most and foremost, it is not enough to do good. We have to do so responsibly. Be ethical, regarding your data and your needs. Assure to do no harm.’. In addition, know what you are to solve; do not assume challenges. Claire continued to explain that there are globally 10 million NGOs, small and big. There are many out there, so make sure you find the organisation that fits; that works in the context and has a mission and work in line with your solution.