Sebongile Hlubi (FBF Project Manager – Lesotho Red Cross) and Jonath Lijftogt (Digital CEA Specialist at 510 – Netherlands Red Cross) showed us the perfect example on how human centered design can be used to develop projects that are built on the understanding of the perspective and experiences of people affected and key stakeholders before, during and after periods of drought.

How did they do it? They started by simply asking the same three open questions to (affected) community members and key stakeholders (e.g. farmers, aid workers and government members) in co-design sessions:

• “Can you tell us what normal life is like?”
• “How did normal life change because of drought?”
• “How can the experience be improved?”

Using the human centered design approach, the Lesotho Red Cross FBF team in collaboration with the German Red Cross and 510 were able to narrow down their original qualitative survey for the drought scoping study (with over 50 guided sub-questions) to the three open questions mentioned above. This resulted in more information while using less questions to understand more about livelihoods and food security, when and how communities feel the impact of drought, which coping mechanisms they use(d), their main communication tools, and what their vision is for future needs.

The insights of the co-design sessions were translated into seasonal calendars in which the key livelihood activities of the communities were mapped out, and where similarities and differences in regions became visible. Combining this with the overview of actions done by other key stakeholders and mapping main communication channels made it possible for the Lesotho Red Cross to set up a project that is adapted to the reality of the people affected, making sure to reach the communities in an effective way and in a timely manner.

In short, the human centered design approach is a valuable and effective way to develop successful anticipatory action projects that are adapted to the human desirability in the specific humanitarian context you are working in!

Dr. Diana Mantel