IRC’s Signpost Initiative Wins Inaugural European Prize for Humanitarian Innovation

The International Rescue Committee’s Signpost initiative, supported by Tech For Refugees, has been awarded the first ever European Prize for Humanitarian Innovation (InnovAid), which honors groundbreaking efforts providing aid to those affected by natural disasters and human-made crises. The accolade was presented during the European Humanitarian Forum held in Brussels, Belgium.

Signpost was recognized for its significant contribution in aiding and empowering millions of displaced individuals via critical, accurate, and potentially life-saving information. The platform focuses on delivering vital information to help individuals facing crises and offering trustworthy information about services, such as eligibility for programs, navigating complex administrative processes, and finding legal advice, employment, or housing.

In February 2023, Tech For Refugees made a three-year commitment to support the IRC’s rollout of Signpost in Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas. The project has now reached over 20 countries worldwide, including Italy, Ukraine, Kenya, and Mexico, and continues to expand.

Andre Heller, IRC’s Signpost Programme Director, said, “Signpost’s vision is shared by our private sector partners, including Tech for Refugees (Breakthrough Prize Foundation), Cisco, Google.org, Meta, Schmidt Futures, Tripadvisor Foundation, and Zendesk, who helped make this project possible.”