Scale

If you have evidence that your solution is addressing a widespread need, scaling its use and increasing its impact could significantly reduce human suffering in humanitarian crises. We define scale as building on demonstrated successes to ensure that solutions reach their maximum potential, have the greatest possible impact, and lead to widespread change.

It is important to note that this definition does not set a numerical benchmark. Some solutions may be context specific or only designed to address a small problem, and in these instances the scope for scale might be limited. There are three indicators of when you may be on the pathway to scaling, but they may not all be needed:

• Are you looking to expand into multiple contexts?
• Are you looking to have your solution implemented/delivered by multiple implementing organisations?
• Are you setting goals of reaching a sizable proportion of the users/target groups affected by the problem your solution addresses?

Before you embark on the scaling journey, it is important to know some of the challenges that you may face. Our ‘Too Tough to Scale’ report identifies five key challenge areas:

• Challenge 1: Too few humanitarian innovations are geared to scale
• Challenge 2: The humanitarian sector has insufficient embedded knowledge and skills for supporting innovations to scale
• Challenge 3: There is a lack of appropriate and adequate funding for scaling innovation in the sector
• Challenge 4: There is insufficient evidence of the impact of humanitarian innovations
• Challenge 5: The humanitarian ecosystem significantly frustrates efforts to scale humanitarian innovation

We recommend you read this report to gain a good appreciation of these challenges, and assess how they might apply to your innovation, organisation and the impact you are trying to achieve.