Innovation: actor heterogeneity and linkages in humanitarian innovation ecosystems

As the humanitarian sector faces growing challenges to respond to the needs of people affected by human and natural disasters, and lately by the challenges of the global pandemic, there is a pressing need for innovation and innovation mechanisms that guide new ideas from initial concept stage into implementable and scalable solutions. Despite dedicated innovation spaces gaining popularity over the last decade, there remains a lack of understanding of humanitarian innovation actors, their roles, dependencies and interdependencies by practitioners, policymakers, and academics. This paper uses evidence from a single case study of a UNICEF Innovations Lab in Kosovo, to provide a list of actors involved in innovation processes. The roles and functions, dependencies and interdependencies existing between actors in this innovation ecosystem, and the implications of the knowledge gained for policy and practice are discussed. Evidence was gained through interviews, surveys, focus-group discussions, analysis of documents and through participatory observation.