Through more and better data for decision-making, better communication, and the implementation of new technologies, CIOs are enabling humanitarian and development organisations to make a greater impact than ever before. For example, in 2020 UNICEF implemented technology-enabled cash transfer solutions in 30 country offices: this allowed it to support a greater number of families through the provision of regular and unconditional cash transfers. In Yemen alone, the programme reached 2.8 million households – and 8.4 million children. Without technology, this would not have been possible.

Thanks to the implementation of new technologies, CIOs are continually increasing the efficiency of their organisations. With operations all over the world, nonprofits have to cope with cultural differences, geographical distances, and different levels of maturity across regions. CIOs play a key role in breaking down silos and enabling collaboration and knowledge-sharing across geographies, by means of data, processes, and software tools. For instance, a group of UN agencies, together with the UN Digital Solutions Center, has built the Travel Data Cube, a tool which aggregates, consolidates, and shows in an interactive way complex information on travel fares, class, restrictions, etc. This enables knowledge sharing between different organisations, ultimately allowing them to better negotiate travel costs and drive savings.

Nonprofits deal with multiple external stakeholders, such as public and private donors, beneficiaries and the wider public, as well as with internal employees and volunteers. Technology and innovation can help them engage better. For instance, Customer Relationship Management solutions enable organisations proactively to build better relationships with donors. Digital channels, such as social media and owned or third-party websites, provide many opportunities for engagement with a wide ecosystem of stakeholders across the globe in a structured and effective way. For example, the WEF, supported by Deloitte, has developed UpLink, a digital platform bringing together innovators and funders to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges. Through UpLink, innovators and social entrepreneurs can submit their solutions to global pressing issues and, if selected, get access to WEF events and network which help them scale their impact. A Salesforce-based, intuitive digital platform, together with engagement and communication on social media, is what made UpLink a success.

But without CIOs’ guidance and support on processes and state of the art solutions, it would not be possible to leverage the possibilities of innovative target user engagement.