What on earth is the Solferino Academy?
The IFRC Solferino Academy is a Think and Do Tank specialising in Innovation, Leadership and Strategic Foresight.
We try to support systems, cultures and leadership that help us be more anticipatory, agile and innovative and a more effective, just and sustainable network.
The Solferino Academy is an integral part of the IFRC and its National Society Development Services working to help achieve the IFRC Strategy 2030 and the Agenda for Renewal.
Justin Park
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Network Engagement
Continuous Learning and Peer Support
So we;
Provide public platforms where National Societies and external experts can share their insights, think pieces and case studies of trying to change and innovate and their peers can engage, learn, participate in dialogue and collaborate.
Justin Park
DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Sara Gullet
INNOVATION SUPPORT OFFICER
Overview
We have over
Followers
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Including;
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Downloads
We provide engagement platforms for decision makers, technical experts and voices that are traditionally underrepresented.
We build creative partnerships and collaboration initiatives with diverse organisations, visionary leaders and disruptors to bring forward innovative approaches and perspectives.
Climate.red TV (Case Study)
The goal was to showcase the relevancy and innovative qualities of the Red Cross Red Crescent as a network of local entities to face climate and environmental crises, and to help our volunteers discuss key issues with COP attendees. The 200 climate reports from 75 National Societies obtained over 70,000 views in just 2 weeks.
Of this cohort, 8 projects and ideas got international attention and further support for the initiatives.
The Climate.Red TV approach was part of a broader strategy we have been building around using video as a learning tool. Rather than build our own video or learning platform we have tried to build the approach inside of a platform already used by billions of people. Over the last few years we have gained more than 12,000 subscribers to our YouTube channel and nearly 500,000 views. We intend to keep trying to grow this over the coming years. We use video so people can share their ideas with the network and reach out to peers.
Transformational Leadership
So we;
Invited the IFRC network to reimagine leadership and test new ways of leading humanitarian organisations. Reflecting on the changing environment, trends and signals, leaders reflected what leadership qualities, mindsets and organisational changes that will be essential for us to remain relevant and become better for the future.
That is why any initiatives that challenge our thinking and bring fresh perspectives are so valuable.
Gintare Guzeviciute
SENIOR ADVISOR LEADERSHIP AND TRANSFORMATION (DEPUTY HEAD OF SOLFERINO ACADEMY)
The Humanitarian Leadership for the Future report was launched in June 2023
From creating a culture where innovation can thrive to building environments that genuinely care for people – diverse insights and recommendations highlighted the essential qualities leaders need to foster future-fit organisations. The skills and capacities identified through this report now form the basis of leadership support programs being facilitated by the IFRC Solferino Academy and beyond.
We engaged with current leadership and next-generation change-makers from across the IFRC Network and facilitated global and regional conversations about the changes in the humanitarian leadership @14th Mediterranean conference, @IAC Preparatory sessions, @training for Heads of Emergency Operations, @Global Innovation Summit and other forums.
The report was also presented to the IFRC Governing Board Advisory Group on National Society Development. The advisory group reiterated the need for broader dialogue on leadership to include staff and volunteer opinions around the world. This led to a global survey launched in late 2023 that received more than 2,000 responses from 106 countries.
Feature — Top 5 Trends people in the network are concerned about
5 — Polarisation, social, geopolitical and economic
4 — Escalation of conflict and new geopolitical tensions
3 — Low levels of trust and misinformation, in part fueled by AI and tech
2 — Extreme weather events and other climate related challenges
1 — The convergence of these and other trends and the complex environments they create
Leadership Study Tours
Senior leadership stood out as systemically pushing for new approaches, rethinking business models and testing new ways of working. Trusting teams and sharing power with them, autonomy and responsibility to take decisions emerged as a catalyst for progress.
Find out more
Think Tank
Over 200 senior leaders from 85 National Societies participated in our Think Tanks
We facilitated think tanks, workshops and 6-month learning journeys for cohorts of Secretaries General, Presidents and Board Members. We worked through key common issues such as digital transformation, reimagining volunteering, crisis management (with Deloitte) and financial sustainability.
Future Fellows
There were 49 fellows from 33 National Societies
Fellows
National societies
We support the transformation of the IFRC network by equipping high-potential leaders with the skills and resources to drive change and innovation in their National Societies. In this 9 months development program participants explore a range of themes, skills and capabilities together including new models of leadership, strategic foresight skills, innovation approaches, ensuring trust and accountability and strategies for driving organisational change.
Strategic Foresight
Helping Navigate Uncertain Contexts
So we;
Provide training, tools and methodologies for the network to help them embed strategic foresight approaches in their own planning and decision-making, helping them uncover new evidence and identify new opportunities for action to face uncertainty and emerging risks.
Beyond training, we support our partners as they embed foresight skills and create anticipatory governance models, which help drive innovation and strengthen transformation. We also work with leadership teams to help them explore organisational change and new structures.
Books Downloaded
The Strategic Foresight Book
Downloaded over 1,000 times since its launch in January 2024
Ben Holt
GLOBAL LEAD FOR STRATEGIC FORESIGHT
Embrace uncertainty as an opportunity to shape tomorrow
Foresight for Ukraine
response
The activity highlighted some strategic questions and considerations on what the network may need to change in view of a protracted crisis, including considering a whole human approach to assistance. The IFRC Solferino team additionally crafted informative key driver dossiers, delving into the emerging issues and repercussions stemming from the Ukraine crisis across Europe and Central Asia.
Foresight
Food Security and Livelihood Strategic Innovation Initiative
Strategic Foresight Masterclasses
Foresight and Innovation Masterclass
Anticipatory governance
Futures we Imagine
Crisis Intelligence
Accelerate and Support Innovation
We aim to promote innovation networks within the IFRC National Societies to tackle the structural barriers that slow innovation, create a positive culture for new solutions and experimentation and build support systems for innovation ideas to thrive.
We are reimagining innovation systems, learning lessons that can be applied globally. We teach skills, partner with teams to tackle complex problems and develop approaches that change the way our organisation works. We support the network’s digital transformation journey, helping to unlock new ideas and then rapidly test and iterate them.
Limitless
IFRC Youth Innovation Academy
Youth
The first round supported over 1,000 youth from 80 National Societies to develop innovations related to COVID responses
Henry Cáceres
GLOBAL INNOVATION OFFICER
The first edition program went beyond conventional models, building innovation capabilities through workshops, mentoring, and funding. Ten finalist projects were announced as winners from sixty teams who received specialized mentoring and extra funding to develop their prototypes.
Innovation Support Systems (ISS) initiatives
The program aims to support National Societies to build their local innovation support systems to foster innovation culture and innovation practice. So far, we have developed the ISS guidebook beta version and the ISS program.
IFRC Global Innovation Summit 2023
Nairobi, Kenya
Laurent Fernandez
PROJECTS AND INFORMATION MANAGER
The IFRC Global Innovation Summit 2023 delivered in partnership with Kenyan RC explored the role of innovation as a driver of transformation and change for our IFRC network of National Societies. Key themes explored organisational change, transformative leadership (at all levels), localisation of innovation, transformation in times of crises, strategic foresight, digital transformation, redefining volunteering and new approaches to financing humanitarian work.
Innovation challenges
Cartoon anonymous – Discover
Data is a Team Sport
IFRC Data Playbook v1
∧
Heather Leson
DIGITAL INNOVATION LEAD
The Data playbook is like a Swiss knife for any organisation that wants to strengthen its data capacity. It contains versatile and comprehensive building blocks to support your organisation’s data journey.
Top 40 under 40 and Connect Conference
Solutions ranged from mental health to emergency preparedness. The top candidates attended the Connect Conference in Kigali (organised by IFRC, ICRC, and Microsoft and hosted by the Rwanda Red Cross (February 2023)).
Collective intelligence
The Nepal Red Cross can better manage and fit its disaster and crisis response items. The Cameroon Red Cross demystified artificial intelligence and could contribute to building a product fit to its community engagement and accountability needs. No advanced IT infrastructure is needed to design and develop a participative A.I. project, but there’s a need for translators that understand both humanitarian and tech focuses, and languages.
Collective Crisis Intelligence
Localising AI for crisis response
Participatory AI for humanitarian innovation: a briefing paper
Partnership
The IFRC Solferino Academy is an IFRC Initiative hosted by the Italian Red Cross
Major Partners
Supporters and Partners
The Dream Team
Gintare Guzeviciute
Senior Advisor Leadership and Transformation (Deputy Head of Solferino Academy)
Hamza Hamwie
Digital engagement
Yeon Park
INTERN, DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORK ENGAGEMENT