The Pacific Humanitarian Challenge

Join us in rethinking humanitarian response

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A Call to Action

Pacific countries are highly exposed to the impacts of climate change and extreme natural events. Through this $2 million Challenge we are calling on innovators, entrepreneurs, designers and scientists to rethink humanitarian response.

“What makes the Pacific uniquely challenging is its small population spread over such a large area”
Shadrack Welegtabit, Director of the Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office.

Take up the Challenge

The challenge seeks existing innovative solutions, and the opportunity to prototype new ways of doing business in the following three areas:

The Understanding and Interpretation of Needs. By improving the timeliness and needs assessment inputs, such as usefulness and accuracy of information, we will improve outcomes.

Humanitarian Logistics. By increasing our capacity to reach remote communities we will save lives and reduce the suffering caused by a disaster.

Building Financial Resilience. By increasing financial resilience, we help communities and businesses have access to the resources to fund recovery and reduce disaster risk.

Challenge timeline

30 NOV 2015 – Challenge opens

7 FEB 2016 – Applications close

7 MAR 2016 – Innovators announced

29–30 MAR 2016 – Design Sprint

11 APR 2016 – Final submissions

23–24 MAY 2016 – Final Innovators announced

Scaling the Impact

Through the implementation of these solutions and prototypes using the challenge funds, we will gain real-world assessment of their applicability to the region, and their technical, organisational and financial viability. If successfully piloted, it is DFAT’s intention to support the continued development and scaling of the solution/prototype across the region post Challenge.

www.pacifichumanitarianchallenge.org

#rethinkingresponse

Australian Aid, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade