Innovation: Leveraging novel and transformative solutions for migrants and societies

Innovation is a critical driver of impact and systems transformation for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its partners. This is especially crucial considering the increasingly complex migration landscape and the unprecedented number of people affected by humanitarian crises. As the UN migration agency, IOM is investing in new ways of thinking to scale up solutions and enable synergistic approaches. These include investing in developing capacities to look beyond single point solutions to explore opportunities for transformative change and piloting new approaches that can foster increased effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability of results.

IOM's Innovation portfolio is managed and coordinated by the Innovation and Knowledge Management (IKM) Unit within the Department of Policy and Research at IOM Headquarters in Geneva. The IKM Unit is the institutional focal point on knowledge management and innovation in relation to migration policy and programming. The Unit leverages innovative approaches and practices to enable systemic transformation, address pressing migration challenges, and strengthen partnerships with governments, the UN system, the private sector, academia, and innovation networks.

The Unit coordinates the IOM Innovation Awards, manages the internal knowledge sharing platform – Peer Exchange and Learning on Migration (POEM), and knowledge exchange activities such Konnect Learning Sessions, Talking Migration Podcast, and coordinates a range of global and regional initiatives to leverage knowledge and innovation as drivers of sustainable development.

Embedding innovation in a systemic approach allows the Organization and its partners to harness the potential of innovation not just as a quick fix, but as a core driver of long-term impact.

Interrelated and Connected

 

IOM encourages innovation in its internal practices and culture, through collaborative relationships between and within HQ and field offices. IOM also promotes innovation in external partnerships, to seek new and creative ways to collaborate in different sectors and with diverse actors, with an emphasis on the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, to ensure migrants, local governments and other key stakeholders are included in the process. Grounded in its wide range partnerships, innovation applies to all areas of IOM’s work and as part of the organizational culture, should be considered by all staff, including in programme design, policy intervention and internal management processes, as it provides opportunities to add value to the Organization’s activities and to meet the changing needs of the beneficiaries. 

Proactive and Transformative

 

IOM’s innovative interventions address not only issues linked to current priorities but also proactive measures, informed by its global field presence and expertise in migration governance. Responding to political, social, economic as well as environmental challenges, IOM’s innovation employs unconventional and context-specific approaches and brings about changes that are transformative and impactful.

 

Scalable, Accelerable, Adaptable and Sustainable

 

IOM identifies and implements innovative solutions to migration challenges that can be scaled up, accelerated, adapted, and sustained.  This involves analysing data and evidence to identify approaches that have the potential for systemic change. Working with communities and other stakeholders to co-create and implement solutions. Using alternative evaluation methods that are consistent with the nature of innovation. Ensuring that solutions are sustainable, meaning that they are economically viable, socially and culturally responsive, environmentally sound, and accessible to everyone.

 

Migrant-centered, Gender Sensitive and Inclusive

 

With strong field presence and expertise in providing direct services as well as capacity development to a diverse population of migrants, IOM is well placed to develop and lead innovative solutions to the evolving challenges that may accompany people on the move and their communities. It is fundamental that all migrants remain at the heart of innovative interventions, through all stages of the project life cycle from design to implementation and that IOM use innovative practices to serve migrants in meeting their needs. All migrants include, but not limited to, persons of all sexes, youth, disability status, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with diverse SOGIESC, children and adults of different ages, as gender sensitivity and diversity inclusion will be at the core of IOM’s innovation approach. IOM will also continue to seek ways to highlight and realize the potential of migrants to be a driving force of innovation.