They say necessity is the mother of invention. And with the large-scale issues our charity partners are facing, inventive solutions are needed now more than ever to tackle challenges like hunger, health care access and economic mobility.

Luckily, innovative tech solutions aren’t only for corporations in Silicon Valley. Nonprofits around the world are pioneering innovations to lead in these areas. From VR to solar power, new technologies are key to many charities’ success in fundraising, operations and programming.

Read on to learn about five charity partners leading with innovative, data-driven solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems.

Psst: If you’re an Explorer, you’ll love this roundup!

Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger’s approach to the hunger crisis “marries science with pragmatism” as they develop ways to anticipate, prevent and treat malnutrition. The organization even runs a Knowledge & Innovation Hub to bring together technical expertise, research and community knowledge to produce cutting-edge development solutions.

In one instance of data-driven impact, Action Against Hunger has helped change the way thousands of people get water in Kenya with a solar “vending machine” called a Smart Tap. With one tap of an electronic token, clean water flows freely, using energy from solar panels. Tokens are filled by the local Water Hub Treasurer, and a local Water Committee sets the price and saves funds for repairs or for those who can’t afford it, ensuring equitable access for all community members. In Yaqbarsadi, Kenya, before Smart Tap was installed, water scarcity meant that many women were targets of intimidation —or even physical abuse — when they collected water. Since the system was installed, there have been no reports of gender-based violence in Yaqbarsadi.

“It has helped a lot; I have even started a small garden at home. I have planted vegetables and this has helped my family a lot, especially during the rainy season.” – Habiba Kanchora Wario, a mother of three who now uses her village’s Smart Tap

Hope for Haiti
Hope for Haiti aims to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly women and children. To support their team’s critical work alleviating poverty across Haiti, Hope for Haiti isn’t afraid to pilot new ways to raise awareness for their mission. That’s why they asked the question — if we can’t bring everyone to Haiti, is there a way to bring Haiti to everyone?

This question drove them to collaborate with the virtual reality (VR) studio FXG to create an immersive and experiential VR app, optimized for the Oculus Quest. When you put on your headset, you are transported to a virtual environment, modeled off one of their partner schools in rural Haiti. There you can explore a three-room schoolhouse, write on the chalkboard, and tour the landscape — all in VR. Hope for Haiti is also partnering with Niantic, the company behind Pokémon GO, to challenge developers to build an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience focused on healthcare in Haiti. Immersive tech like VR and AR has been scientifically proven to increase empathy, and the app is a great way to show donors the impact they can make.

Helen Keller Intl
More than a billion people worldwide do not have access to nutrition and healthcare. Helen Keller Intl partners with communities around the world who are striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition and clear vision, Helen Keller ensures every person has the opportunity to reach their true potential. Here is a recent example of how Helen Keller has helped create lasting change in people’s lives:

When Mollika, a 17-year-old in Bangladesh, learned about Helen Keller’s adolescent health and nutrition opportunity, she jumped at the opportunity to improve her family’s garden harvest and health. In the training, she learned about how to best use their land, diversifying crops to create bountiful year-round harvests. In three months, the family had earned USD $250 from the sale of vegetables and poultry production. Her leadership was noticed when she was elected as a Peer Leader Demonstration Farm farmer, teaching other members of the community about urban farming. Recognizing her efforts and knowledge in farming, Helen Keller also helped Mollika participate in the 2022 International Nutrition Olympiad in Dhaka, where she was declared the Champion.

“In the future, I want to be an entrepreneur of a small-scale agricultural farm to produce nutritious, safe food.” – Mollika, local farmer and leader in her community

Amref Health Africa
Amref Health Africa is able to deliver fast, effective health solutions to communities across Africa thanks to their use of innovative digital solutions. Limited mobile connectivity, lack of access to health care and a need for more health care workers are all part of the problem Amref is trying to address, and the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated efforts. Amref’s ability to develop and implement evidence-based solutions has helped thousands across Africa receive better health care outcomes.

When Amref International University recognized pregnant women’s need for better access to medical care, researchers selected the Health[e]Foundation’s LUCY app to help improve access digitally. With just a few taps on their screens, expectant mothers can access vital information, track their prenatal progress, and receive personalized reminders for appointments and immunizations. LUCY is playing a vital role in improving maternal and child health in rural communities in Kenya, thanks to Amref’s research, implementation and training.

Accion
Accion is creating a financially inclusive world through microfinance and fintech impact investing. Through advisory services, coaching, investments and governance, Accion combines their decades of the-ground experience and insights into new technologies to help families reach their economic potential.

In just one example of the power of impact investing, Accion invested in AquaExchange, a full stack solution that provides farm management technology and financial services to aquaculture farmers and exporters in rural India. To feed the world and ensure their own livelihoods, aquaculture farmers – those raising fish and other aquatic life for consumption – need insights that can reduce waste, improve their output and increase their income. AquaExchange has helped thousands of farmers run efficient and sustainable operations. Because of Accion’s strategic guidance to the company, farmers like Krishnam Raju can purchase seed, feed and other products at low prices and get the inputs delivered right to their farms through AquaExchange.

“Demand is good here as well as in foreign countries. That is why many farmers are showing interest in shrimp farming.” – Krishnam Raju, an aquaculture farmer benefitting from AquaExchange, Accion’s partner

Just like Accion, Amref Health Africa, Helen Keller, Hope for Haiti and Action Against Hunger, you can help shape how we’ll provide humanitarian aid now and in the future. Donate to these charities in your workplace giving campaign to support cutting-edge solutions to humanitarian needs.