The AidInnov Foundation Is Now the Solvoz Foundation
As of January 2021, the AidInnov Foundation will be known as the Solvoz Foundation. Next to a change in the look of our logo and website, we will become more active on our news page, LinkedIn account and Twitter account. However, to truly understand the foundation and how it is presented to you currently, let us start at the beginning.
From AidMetrics to AidInnov to Solvoz Foundation
The foundation came into existence based on the discussions of a group of experienced aid workers. They started working together as a movement in 2016 under the name AidMetrics, which eventually changed to AidInnov. After a lot of research within the sector as well as countless conversations, they established the AidInnov Foundation in July 2019, which as of January 2021 will become known as the Solvoz Foundation.
The goals of the Solvoz Foundation is to promote sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency in the planning and spending of funds in international aid and development cooperation.
To achieve this mission, the foundation set up an open-access knowledge database with solutions for the aid sector. This database will be publicly available and accessible in collaboration with Solvoz. Solvoz is a registered social enterprise, operating a procurement platform with an integrated solutions catalogue, which is free to access. Due to this collaboration and mission we decided to change the name of the AidInnov Foundation (sounds like Aid Enough and Innov from innovation) to the Solvoz Foundation to clarify its mission and goals for open-access knowledge to achieve and promote sustainable, effective and efficient planning and spending of funds in the aid sector.
The foundation is working with multiple parties who are providing information to the database and share knowledge; such as NGOs, relevant providers of products and services, product experts and others. The database is a necessary condition to facilitate the various actors in the international aid sector in a more effective and efficient use of funds.
The history of our name
The team behind the foundation were intrigued by the neutrality of Esperanto, a language that was created in the late 19th century. It takes its origins from different languages, so it does not belong to any country. A name inspired by this language should generate universal appeal.
To decide on the actual name, the team asked themselves ‘Why did we start our platform?’. The answer was easy: ‘We are here to solve something, to help users globally by finding the right solutions for their needs. We want to help opening up expert knowledge and support our users with finding the right solution. This includes informing about pre-requisites and provide not only existing, but also possibly innovative solutions. All that is needed to have a responsible solution.’. Solutions are at the core of the organization’s goals, which is how the team stumbled upon ‘solvi’.
solvi (solv-i): to solve; to dissolve
The foundation’s focus is on helping to create a better future, which is how they chose to place the verb in future tense, which means it should end in -os. The name felt close to finished, but not quite yet. The foundation is unique in its kind. We offer a new way of thinking, which should be reflected in the name. Therefore the team chose to take some liberty by changing the grammatically correct Solvos to the more unique Solvoz.
