About the festival
Innovation is one of the driving forces behind DanChurchAid’s ambitious Global Strategy to challenge systemic social and environmental issues in the global south and to develop new forms of engagement of the Danish public. From a simple idea to successful implementation, innovation brings as many challenges as opportunities.
The first ever DCA Innovation Festival brings together like-minded professionals spearheading the innovation agenda to offer insights, education and case studies on how creative thinking can bring positive change. Join us virtually for three days of inspiring discussions on what innovation means to DCA and how simple ideas lead to action. The panel discussions will focus on three different themes: Localization, Food systems and Going Digital.
What will you get out of it?
Every day we will run different sessions aimed at bringing diverse and fresh takes on how innovation can support humanitarian and development work, featuring case studies from both within DCA. You will be inspired and learn how to kickstart innovation through our hands on tool sessions!
Sessions:
Sharing the idea
DCA country offices share their newest ideas that are still at testing stage.
Ready for replication
DCA country offices share consolidated innovation work which is ready for replication.
Explainers
We have invited experts to give sharp and concise explanations of upcoming digital tools
Challenging our thinking
We invite external speakers to challenge our thinking and to give us new insights.
Tool sessions
One-hour sessions focused on providing you with the skills to conceptualize and scale up innovative projects.
Ideation sessions
Discussion sessions where we will be reflecting critically on how innovative approaches can be further incorporated in DCA’s work.

The Innovation Festival
Innovation is one of the driving forces behind DanChurchAid’s ambitious Global Strategy to challenge systemic social and environmental issues. From a simple idea to successful implementation, innovation brings as many challenges as opportunities.
The Innovation Festival brings together like-minded professionals spearheading the innovation agenda to offer insights, education and case studies on how creative thinking can bring positive change. Join us virtually for a week of inspiring discussions on what innovation means to DCA and how simple ideas lead to action. The panel discussions will focus on three four different themes: Localisation, Food systems, Engagement, and Digital innovation.
Localisation
- We will explore innovative local leadership models and innovative feedback loops for local communities by introducing innovation cases from around DCA’s Country Offices.
- We will discuss how to support locally led innovation by looking at innovative learning and new ways of thinking capacity development.
Food systems
- We will look at innovative ways to encourage and upscale behavioral change that can strengthen food production, meet climate change targets, promote gender equity, and build resilience.
- We will discuss how to promote a more holistic approach to food systems by promoting a greening approach and responsible business conduct in our projects, also from a nexus perspective.
Digital Innovation
Digital innovation creates enormous potential for change.
- We will look at the promises and pitfalls of using digital solutions to solve complex humanitarian issues.
- How do we harness the transformational potential of predictive analysis and modeling to disseminate life-saving information? We will explore anticipatory action approaches and impact-based forecasting systems.
- New technologies have enabled the systematic monitoring of online and offline activity, clashing with human rights approaches. When it comes to surveillance technologies, where does the human rights space need to be innovated?
Localisation
Localization of aid structures and supporting local leadership is crucial.
- We will explore innovative local leadership models, as well as innovative feedback loops for local communities.
Click here if you would like to learn more about the program of the festival.

Nepal, B-Ready: Flood Forecasting System
DCA Nepal aims to support community-based disaster management committees in Western Nepal to develop anticipatory action (AA) protocols. The intervention focuses on capacity-building of disaster-management local actors by developing a community-based flood forecasting system.

Cambodia, Agroecology Live Learning Lab
DCA Cambodia is proposing an ‘’Agroecology Live Learning Lab’’ as a user-centered solution to foster linkages and innovation between agricultural practitioners, private sector and governmental actors, as well as universities. The ‘’AE Lab’’ concept is based upon mutual learning and co-creation of knowledge, with participants coached to build their own learning experience.

Myanmar, SCLR Monitoring and Evaluation
DCA Myanmar is piloting a novel approach to monitoring and evaluation of projects in locations with limited access to beneficiaries. The idea behind the project is to provide basic evaluation and monitoringtools to communities involved in SCLR projects.

Kenya, Kakuma Smart Learners
DCA Kenya and LLAB prototyped a localized, participatory and blended approach to building youth’s business skills and entrepreneurship in Kakuma refugee camp. The solution is different from classic face-to-face training by expanding and spacing the learning process through technology using smartphones as a primary delivery tool for on-demand and peer-to-peer learning.


Exciting speakers will attend the sessions, more details will follow!
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