Seminar in Geneva: From Procurement to Piloting

The INGOs project will land in Geneva at the same time, when AidEx 2025 is also taking place, bringing a powerful message: let’s rethink humanitarian innovation by putting piloting before procurement. In collaboration with key partners, the project is organizing an independent pre-event seminar that challenges traditional way of thinking and highlights how small-scale pilot projects can drive smarter, faster, and more adaptive solutions.

The seminar gathers humanitarian innovators, UN agencies, NGOs, and solution providers for a half-day of insights, dialogue, and practical examples. Among the attending organizations are World Food Programme (WFP), Christian Aid, CERN, and a diverse mix of innovative SMEs. The session is free to participate and designed especially for SMEs looking to enter or expand their role in the humanitarian sector and humanitarian agencies who want to get a new food for thought on how to to operate in constant changing world solving complex questions.

Register for the seminar via this link.

21.10.2025 Seminar Program:

“From Procurement to Piloting – A Smarter Path to Innovation and Impact”
Location: Crowne Plaza, Geneva, Switzerland
Time: 12:00–16:30, 21st October

12:00–13:00
Registration & Coffee
13:00–13:10
Opening Remarks: Welcome and introduction to INGOs project and partners
13:10–13:30
Keynote Talk:
“Why We Need Pilots Before Procurements”
13:30–14:15
Panel Discussion:
“Lessons from the Field: Pilot Projects That Made a Difference”
Case: WFP Indonesia – Digital solutions to crack the School Meal Programme Challenge
14:15–15:00
Roundtable Discussions:
Identify shared challenges & co-create ideas for future pilot calls
15:00–15:30
Networking Break
15:30–16:00
Fireside Chat:
“Scaling What Works” – How to move from pilot to procurement
16:00–16:30
Closing & Next Steps:
Summary, insights, and invitation to collaborate with the INGOs project
17:00 –
Networkin Reception
Kindly note that the evening reception does require a separate registration.

The program and topics are still subject to change and will be updated here closer to event date. .

The seminar is organized by the Export to International NGOs -project, which is funded by Interreg Central Baltic Programme.