General

IPA – a right for life “beyond survival” based on humanitarian principles


By Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi,
ProMosaik. In the following our interview with Isabella of IPA, the
Innovation and Planning Agency
, connection solutions, resources, and
technologies to support disadvantaged people all over the world. On the website
of IPA it says: The scope, scale and complexity of challenges facing the
dispossessed require more efficient and innovative approaches. Would like to
thank Isabella for her time and answers. 

 

 

A picture of Kilian Kleinschmidt – and a teenager – when he
was still “Mayor” (manager) of Zaatari in Jordan, one of the world’s biggest
refugee camps. Copyright: 
robert poecksteiner / peter pfund www.dontpanicproduction.com

How was IPA
founded and what are its main objectives?
Kilian Kleinschmidt,
the founder and CEO of IPA, is an international networker, humanitarian
and refugee expert with over 25 years of experience in a wide range of
countries as United Nations official and aid worker. He came to see the way the
aid sector functions and is managed by the international institutions not
appropriate anymore. He now wants to change the narrative in the humanitarian
aid to provide the poor with a life that means more than just surviving. He
says, it is about time to move away from keeping people hostage to a
humanitarian unsustainable logic and move into a new way of connecting the
millions of poor and disadvantaged with relevant and under-utilized recourses
and modern technologies of the 21st century.  IPA aims to
replace the traditional humanitarian and charitable system with more effective
decentralized structures for a sustainable and quality of life improving
development.
How do you
select the regions/communities where you intervene?
So far, IPA is
still in the process of developing different concepts with different partners,
and finding investors. Actual full implementations of projects are still to
come. Therefore I would like to introduce two projects, which are currently
being worked on:
·   Humanity
Artist Jam Network
It is an idea
jointly created by Kilian Kleinschmidt and Thomas Hankel  (CEO and
creative director of torpedo), and it is based on the principle, that people are
connected by arts and culture. Arts and culture are those essential components
which define the fabric of our society. Through the Humanity Artist Jam
concept, artists, artistic creators and pioneers will be connected through
mentors and sponsorships to a specific Artist Jam project. Artists from “our”
countries will be connected with groups in “emerging” markets and developing
countries to initiate Artist Jam projects. The outcome will be art  – in
every kind, like small and big collective works and workshops, working
groups, events, concerts, media events, publications, permanent and temporary
art and art works. Through these projects, a sense for creativity and
initiative will be supported, emotional intelligence, critical reflections, a
sense for independence, for freedom of thoughts and actions will be developed.
The social backgrounds, the culture and the needs of the local community are
part and parcel of every project.
 ·   Beyond
Survival
Another
campaign, which was founded by Kilian Kleinschmidt and where IPA is involved is
the Beyond Survivals campaign. The book “Beyond Survival” is the starting point
of the fundraising and social community campaign “beyondsurvivals”. The book,
written by Kilian Kleinschmidt and Jenny Schuckardt (journalist and author),
portrays the stories of 12 children and teenagers, who had to flee, left
everything behind and who impress through their courage, cheerfulness, and
curiosity for knowledge. The book brings greater awareness to the rights of
children, a right for life “beyond survival” based on humanitarian principles.
The online platform “beyondsurvivals” is a cooperation of different partners
and enables investment in innovative and creative projects, which help children
and teenagers gain access to the modern world, in which education, arts,
culture and technology are fixed components of their lives. (Link to the
homepage: http://www.beyondsurvivals.com/de/ )
What are the
main features of your innovative approach?
IPA identifies
the relevant resources, and matches them with the needs of the population in
the crises regions with a focus on the socio-economic development. Through the
use of innovative technology the economic and social system will be stimulated.
International available, efficient new technology solutions and best practices,
which are often not accessible for crises areas and “lost” markets can solve
demands much more effectively than “traditional” methods. IPA’s approach always
involves the local authorities and local communities – this includes the
development of meaningful partnerships in the chosen regions. The local
population is part of every project to develop regional capacities. Refugees
and migrants are seen as new opportunities for further development, through
which local capacity will be strengthened.