On Wednesday, the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Spanish Committee of UNHCR held the event Dialogue for Humanitarian Innovation: Strategic Partnerships to Protect and Transform the Future of Refugees at the Palau Macaya in Barcelona, a key forum organised to coincide with the Mobile World Congress 2026, which brought together leaders from the humanitarian, technological and institutional sectors.
Within this framework, Magdalena Brier, Director General of ProFuturo, took part in a round-table discussion with key figures from the humanitarian and social sectors. It was an opportunity to exchange views and experiences that will help strengthen the foundations of sustainable, long-term responses, demonstrating the transformative potential of innovation when driven by a multi-sectoral partnership.
Since its inception, one of ProFuturo’s priorities has been precisely to ensure quality digital education for thousands of displaced children. Today, thanks to collaboration with various partners, the programme is active in places such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Jordan and Lebanon. “ “At ProFuturo, we continuously analyse and measure our intervention and our impact,” Brier stated during her speech. “We have established continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to obtain real-time data on the project’s progress, and also to collect qualitative data, opinions and analyses (including from external evaluators and experts) to ensure and demonstrate that the project is effective.”
The CEO of ProFuturo concluded her speech by highlighting the importance of technology as a key dimension of development projects. “The idea that part of society is being left behind in technological progress is unacceptable. That is why we will continue to invest in education, technology and innovation, as they are fundamental pillars of human development.”
The event also featured the participation of international experts, public and private institutions, and technology organisations, creating a key platform for forging collaborations between companies, institutions and humanitarian organisations, pooling capabilities to develop and scale up innovative solutions.
