The problems surrounding poverty are wicked and complicated. Pat answers and short term solutions are never going to get us where God is calling us to be. The challenge is that nonprofits often experience constraints (either real or perceived) that keep them from innovating better approaches to meeting peoples needs. We’re joined today by Abe Wright and Greg Bixler who are the co-founders of Design Outreach. As an organization that not only values innovation but actively invests and rallies donors towards research and development, they’ve been able to provide significant upgrades to common problems in WASH and medical care. The communities that we partner with deserve better and Abe and Greg provide us with helpful insight and direction as we iterate and innovate.
Conversation Notes
- The necessity of transforming what it means to be a humanitarian organization and the ways in which we operate
- 40% of water pumps are no longer in function and we need to improve that
- The need for collaboration and working with government partners
- Understanding research and development as practical problem solving
- Comparing the efficacy of LifePump with other water pumps or water solutions. The importance of both access to water and the durability of water pumps.
- Wrapping your donors into the work of innovation even as some solutions don’t pan out
- Additional innovations in hygiene and medical care
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Resources and Links from the show
Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License
Canopy International 