Five ways to be a better humanitarian

On World Humanitarian Day (19 August), we’re highlighting five ways we can take action to drive positive change and create a better world for children and families.

1. Commit to maintaining a liveable planet

Rapid environmental changes are threatening people’s food sources, water and livelihoods. Climate change is at a crisis level, and we must commit to responding swiftly and effectively.

It is important to stay close to people’s pressing, on-the-ground needs and build their resilience to climate change. But to maintain a liveable planet, we must also change how our global economy operates.

For example, We Mean Business, a coalition working with the world’s most influential companies to take action on climate change, is spearheading a business case for decarbonisation and helping the business sector to exemplify leadership.

In addition, the European Climate Foundation strives to ensure that we fulfil Paris Climate Agreement targets and maintain the global temperature below 2° of pre-industrial levels.

To enact meaningful change to combat the climate crisis, it’s important that everyone acts as a climate advocate in their own organisation, pushes for change and expresses solidarity with current and future generations who will share the planet.

2. Help the most vulnerable

To remove the very threats to people’s livelihoods and lives, we need to invest in long-term, durable solutions while being ready to fund short-term needs. Disasters will always strike, and the most vulnerable communities—including the children who live in them—will be worst affected.

For example, organisations such as the Start Fund and Médecins Sans Frontières are diminishing human suffering by responding to crises that could go unnoticed or be overshadowed by other events. But sometimes more support is needed to respond adequately to a humanitarian crisis.

The development sector must rely on a decision-making vehicle that allows humanitarian experts to allocate funding where they see the greatest need and provide core support to emergency organisations directly or through pooled funding mechanisms.

3. Invest in refugee livelihoods

Displacement has never before affected so many. Too many people keep moving until they find a safe place to call home.

We can support both refugee and host communities by working to dismantle barriers to job opportunities and invest in new ones, while abiding by the UN’s Global Compact for Refugees.

For example, the Tent Alliance and the Businresess Refugee Action Network, two partnerships for mobilising the private sector to support the livelihoods of refugees, show how the business sector is engaged and ready to be part of the solution.

Investing in refugee livelihoods boosts local markets and the economy. At the same time, investing in host community livelihoods helps them meet Sustainable Development Goals and hone skills for future generations. By addressing problems such as unemployment, inequality and food shortages, job creation programmes can also help prevent conflicts and nurture peaceful communities.

4. Build unprecedented collaborations

One of the biggest opportunities in the humanitarian sector is mobilising collective action. In bringing together well-positioned actors and thought leaders through efficient funding mechanisms, we can create unlikely alliances and partnerships.   

Many organisations are effectively working to tackle climate change or support displaced people, and their best practices should be shared more. For example, the platform What Design Can Do exemplifies how to can engage professional communities, such as designers, to apply their professional skills and creative thinking to complex issues, such as climate change.

Moving forward, organisations must embrace the natural inclination to evolve, constantly examine what they can do better, and encourage new collaborations with partners.

5. Develop a sense of urgency

We can all develop a sense of urgency by understanding the issues and learning how to engage.

At our foundation’s 10-year anniversary conference held in June, the young Amsterdam artist Benjamin Fro gave a spoken word performance, capturing what was on many of our minds. “It might be hard, we might not always know how. But the right time to do right is always right now,” he said.

Partner

Partner

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/

Partner

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
http://www.msf.org/

Partner

International Rescue Committee
https://www.rescue.org/

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  • 89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. 

But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 

Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making.

The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 

The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 

🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. 

#IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
  • The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
  • We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. 

But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 

Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making.

The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 

The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 

🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. 

#IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. 

But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 

Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making.

The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 

The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 

🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. 

#IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
89% of people got this question wrong — and the correct answer might surprise you. But it’s more than just a quiz. Knowing the facts matters. Here’s why 👇 Climate awareness is high, and that’s a great start. However, to truly tackle one of the greatest challenges humanity faces, climate knowledge needs to catch up, so we can bring more facts into our decision-making. The transition away from fossil fuels? Slower than it needs to be. But here’s the good news: most of the additional electricity produced today comes from renewable sources. That’s a reason for hope. 💡🌍 The IKEA Foundation partners with @gapminder_org to spread a fact-based worldview that fuels smarter choices and lasting impact. 🔗 Take the full quiz and upgrade your worldview – link in bio. #IKEAFoundation #Gapminder #RenewableEnergy
4 weeks ago
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The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍 By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth. 🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. *Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA. #IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
3 months ago
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2/3
We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics. Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to: ✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises. ✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic. ✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026. By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet. Head to our link in bio to read more. #IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
4 months ago
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