RespondLocal by Needslist

Crisis coordination marketplace for government, foundations, and coordinating bodies to easily match needs and offers of supplies, services, and information in times of crisis.

Past and Current Partners

WFP's Humanitarian Grand Challenge, Village Capital's incubator program, Katapult Tech accelerator, GSBI's incubator for refugee and migration-related businesses, Juntos Es Mejor Challenge (USAID/IDB), Google (through the Welcome Exchange), Amazon, TripAdvisor, and IKEA.

Active Countries
Venezuela, Peru, Iraq, Bangladesh, Kenya, Uganda, USA
Thematic area(s)
Crisis
Technology
Whitelabel
Organisation Name
NeedsList
READ MORE ON THEIR WEBSITE

The Problem

84 million people are currently displaced worldwide. This number is expected to quadruple by 2050, largely due to conflict and climate change. Even before the war in Ukraine, there were massive budget shortfalls in the aid sector. In 2021, international donors provided $17.2 billion for humanitarian aid, less than half of what was needed. But even a large increase in funding would not solve the problem. The aid sector wasn't designed to meet the protracted, complex emergencies that are displacing so many people today. The sector is inherently slow, inefficient, and siloed. Organizations spend between 60-80% of humanitarian funding on logistics. Needs are currently gathered through email, spreadsheets, and calls. This lack of coordination disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. The private sector is eager to support in times of crisis, but, in absence of clear directives on what's needed, don't know where or how to help efficiently. We need new solutions to support a system of aid that are tech-enabled, cut across sectors, and are scalable to keep up with the rapid pace of growing crisis.

The Solution

RespondLocal from Needslist is a crisis coordination software designed to aggregate needs from multiple organizations on the ground and match them to offers from NGOs and the private sector. From the Syrian refugee emergency in Europe to multiple hurricanes in North America to global COVID-19 response to refugee resettlement in the United States, NeedsList's software has been built with, and used by, those who are responding to crises. Over the last six years, NeedsList's tools have been implemented in over 20 countries, facilitating the distribution of more than $25 million worth of resources to vulnerable communities from companies such as Google (through the Welcome Exchange), Amazon, TripAdvisor, and IKEA.

How it works?

  • Step 1: Government or coordinating body requests to license and deploy software for use in crisis response or ongoing resilience. Licensing body controls vetting and access to the platform.
  • Step 2: Organizational admins invite local nonprofits and businesses to join deployment.
  • Step 3: Businesses post offers of supplies and services and nonprofits post needs. All are matched automatically and parties are put in contact.
  • Step 4: All matches are verified and tracked (including dollar value) through our detailed reporting system. Step 5: Required needs are met either online by digital services if they are remote or in-person if there are supplies to be picked up locally or delivered.
  • Step 6. Supplies/services are distributed to local populations by the local NGOs who requested them.
Digital X Solution RespondLocal by Needslist

Bridging the digital divide

The mobile app is able to work offline based on connectivity challenges encountered in the field. Digital literacy has been cited as a key unintended outcome by an external evaluator.

Impact and highlights

Venezuela: Over 8,000 people have received over $25k of aid through NeedsList tools. Peru: Over 56,000 people have received over $84k of aid through NeedsList tools. Iraq: Over 6,000 people have received over $18k of aid (all locally manufactured PPE) through NeedsList tools.Bangladesh: Over 18,000 people have received over $70k of aid (all locally manufactured PPE) through NeedsList tools. Kenya: Over 5,000 people have received over $30k of aid (all locally manufactured PPE) through NeedsList tools.Uganda: Over 37,000 people have received over $70k of aid (all locally manufactured PPE) through NeedsList tools. United States: Over 50,000 people have received over $18M in aid.

Plans for expansion

Current discussions with multiple partners in Ukraine, Ecuador, Brazil, and Colombia.