Integrating Innovation in Development Projects !
The highly ambitious Sustainable Development Goals are increasingly pushing development organizations to rethink their operation and business models. These solutions need to be agile, scalable, co-designed and co-created with the beneficiaries. The organizations themselves need to be highly adaptive, flexible, fast and forward-looking and only then can high impact, innovative solutions be delivered.
This organizational shift is a major task for many organizations, who have been dealing with legacy systems, policies and embedded bureaucracy. Changing culture is an uphill task, especially when the workforce remains the same. Advancement of disruptive technologies bring lots of opportunities for development workers provided they know how to effectively use them.
Disruptive technologies, like the blockchain, will increase the efficiency and transparency of aid work to a greater extent. Embedding new tech such as drones, social data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, robotic process automation will enhance the effectiveness of development interventions in various countries.
The question is how to successfully integrate them into the development project cycle?
My personal experience suggests that the job is not that easy, especially when people are comfortable with doing business as usual. Therefore, have perseverance. Adding a new component in a traditional project always adds some level of risk in its implementation. On top of that, the client may not see the value of having a new component as this may increase costs and implementation time.
Secondly, do not try to embed an innovation that has not been tested with a positive outcome. If innovation is not tested and at a basic research level, integrating with a project will be extremely difficult due to a low level of buy-in from the management.
Thirdly, have a pilot. Start implementing small innovations in not so complicated projects, measure the value and then scale up.
The following image describes at what stage innovation can be integrated:
As shown, a lot of work needs to be done to spot an innovation opportunity. Horizon scanning, research, focus group discussions on thematic topics. Once the innovation is spotted, discuss with the relevant project officers on adding the component to the project design.
Usually, any development project starts with formulating the concept, followed by preparation and appraisal. Integration of innovative solutions can be done at the conceptualization stage of the project. At this point, calculate how much extra budget may be required, seek sponsorship for this extra cost and once management approval is obtained, go for a small-scale implementation. A successful pilot always triggers wider implementation. But first, you must demonstrate that it works.
A Case Study
Two years ago, we implemented an infrastructure project with an innovation component, which increases road durability by 3 times. We had spotted three innovations from three different countries during the innovation exhibition organized at our Annual Meeting followed by identification of a prospective client — a Member Country in Africa.
Several technical workshops were organized with Government agencies at the client’s destination with all three innovators. After careful consideration, one of the innovations was considered highly relevant to the country’s need.
A technical tour was organized in the innovator’s country of origin, where detailed study and observation took place. Convinced of the innovation’s impact on the road infrastructure, the project proposal was then developed, and financing was extended to the client country.
It should be noted that many innovations, especially at an early stage, are not cheap. For example, robotics, drones, blockchain and AI tools are still not easily available or commercially viable.
Integrating them into normal development projects might significantly increase the financing cost. One suggestion would be to look for frugal innovations that are community driven/led and low cost. There are many low costs innovations that exist in various parts of the world, and they require nurturing and branding to be visible globally. One of the examples of a frugal innovation is, Chotukool- an affordable food storage solution designed for the lower-class households in India. The storage in a 45-liter plastic container that can cool food to around 8 to 10 degrees on a 12-volt battery. The solution uses a thermoelectric or solid state cooling system instead of the compressor technology used in domestic fridges. Designed by Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing, Chotukool improved the lives of the rural community by preserving the perishable food and allowing the small shops to sell cold drinks to their customers. ( Source: https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2013/06/article_0003.html)
A Pre-requisite
Trying out any innovation within a ‘business as usual’ setting requires a corporate culture of risk tolerance, shared responsibilities and adaptability. An organization needs to go through a major transformation to build such a culture if it does not exist. One way could be to test out the new ideas in an incubator, which is a dedicated unit and outside of the regular business processes environment. Allocated some funding to the incubator and allow for exception and failure.
So, are you ready to try something new for your next project?
