What is RILx?

RIL is not a new NGO – we are a collaborative initiative between Civic, World Vision International, Oxfam International, Save the Children International and Danish Refugee Council. RIL is not a registered entity and does not have its own bank accounts, employees, etc…

RIL adopts a decentralized, network model of management. Each Response Lab is managed by one of its global Member organizations via its Country Office.  For instance, the Iraq Response Innovation Lab (IRIL) is hosted by Oxfam Iraq who recruits and oversees staff, raises funds and manages its budget and sets its strategic objectives (in accordance with the Global RIL strategy). The small RIL Central Support Unit (i.e. its HQ) is hosted by Civic and is comprised of a Global Director and two Regional Managers who provide support to the Response Labs, represent RIL gobally and regionally, help mobilize resources and partnerships,  and maintain global systems (RIL website, intranet, toolkits).

RIL is entirely funded by grants or fee-for-service contracts, with funding primarily being mobilized by individual Response Labs through their host organization’s (e.g. WVI, SCI, OI, DRC) fundraising systems.  The Central Support Unit is funded through the provision of technical assistance to the Response Labs to be included in their grant funding, as well as some limited fee-for-service agreement to external actors.

RIL platforms are designed to be largely demand-driven and have worked on addressing challenges from nearly all recognized humanitarian sectors. Over time, it has developed a particular focus on displacement and climate adaptation/resilience programming but will continue to be open to working on any challenge area significantly impacting vulnerable populations.

RIL is built to engage with all types of actors who are present in the humanitarian innovation ecosystems it serves. This has included UN agencies, national governments, universities, private sector actors, donors, local NGOs, social entrepreneurs and other innovation hubs. RIL’s methodology has a particular focus on engaging with the leading implementers of humanitarian programming in order to better understand the demand (and resources available) for different types of solutions.

Initially designed to work in any humanitarian emergency, RIL has found it is most impactful working in prolonged crises, complex emergencies and the reconstruction phase of acute disasters.  Over time, our work has drifted into the Nexus, Resilience and DRR programming spaces, particularly as contexts evolve. RIL Response Labs will continue to focus on fragile settings with underdeveloped innovation ecosystems where we can add clear value. In case existing social innovation platforms are in place and interested in adopting our approach, we can invite them to join our network as Affiliate Facilities.

If you are working in a context that meets the RIL criteria (e.g. a humanitarian or “nexus” setting with a viable but underdeveloped innovation ecosystem) and are from one of our global Member organizations, you can engage with the RIL Executive Committee contact  person to stat a conversation. If you are from an external organization and there is no existing RIL platform serving your context, you may reach out directly to the RIL Central Support Unit (info@responseinnovationlab.com) to notify us of your interest in opening an Affiliate Facility.

Each RIL Response Lab has dedicated staff based in the location that they serve. You can find their contact information on the RIL website (https://www.responseinnovationlab.com/wherewework).