Innovation Incubator

Innovation is the introduction of a new idea, method, or device to an existing product, idea, or field.

Innovation occurs when markets intersect with technology and business models. At FHI Solutions, we innovate to find, test, adapt and scale solutions for some of the most pressing problems relating to global malnutrition.

This year’s 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference is an opportunity to bring sectors and people together. Learn more about how innovation for nutrition can help meet climate targets.

Why is innovation important for overcoming global malnutrition?

The drivers of poor nutrition are ever changing⁠—people, cultures, food choices, social norms, business actions, national systems and even our global governance structures do not stay the same. Without innovation, responses will not adapt, need will not be met, and poor nutrition outcomes will not improve.

Innovations are rapidly expanding across other sectors, such as climate and technology, but this is not the case in nutrition. As such, the solutions climate for systemic problems relating to malnutrition is not evolving at a rate fast enough to meet demand.

Our aim is that we close the gap, working across sectors to accelerate solutions scaling, knowledge management, investment, and impact for nutrition.

Innovation is staying relevant.”

— Stephen Shapiro

What is different about our approach to
innovation management for nutrition?

The potential for adaptation and scaling drives our search for innovations.

This is because we are committed to finding and developing sustainable solutions that will improve efficiencies in national systems.

We take a diligent approach to risk.

We rigorously test solutions against tested criteria before adapting and scaling. We believe that well managed risk is a cornerstone of system wide change.

We put people at the heart of everything we do.

In practice, this means that we listen and take time to understand the daily realities for the people our innovations are mean to serve. If something isn’t working, we pivot.

We focus on innovation management.

We are committed to moving through the ideas stage to successful implementation. While creativity needs to be nurtured, we put in place structures and systems to ensure that innovations are grounded in data. Across our three initiatives, we share lessons to help inform broader policy change.

Innovation Spotlight: The Little Sun

The Little Sun brings quality care and nutrition counselling to antenatal and postnatal care services to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates and infant and young child feeding practices in Viet Nam. Today, there are 1,200 Little Sun nutrition counseling clinic across 15 provinces in Viet Nam.

Learn More

Jonathan Torgovnik, Getty Images/Images of Empowerment

What types of innovation do we specialize in?

Typically, at FHI Solutions we focus on three categories of innovation to improve nutrition, reach millions of people, and influence global policy.

Page references:
See reference here.
12 Four types of innovation are created by Greg Satell, 1995; Mapping Innovation: A Playbook for Navigating A Disruptive Age. See additional reference here.

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