When a disaster strikes, aid workers need resources like food, shelter and medicine to help the victims. But while people want to help, often the only resource they have to give are their words of support, strength, hope and peace, which can be seen across all social media channels.

In 2013 the United Nations asked us to create an engagement platform that would help generate funding for humanitarian aid so that they have the resources they need for both ongoing and new humanitarian aid efforts.

The marketplace for words was designed for people to participate in the campaign in the simplest way possible. By sharing the one resource we all have the power to give. Our words.

Celebrities and influencers including Beyoncé, Kid President, David Guetta and Mikky Ekko created video and music content; inviting people to share a word and make it a reality.

‘The World Needs More’ platform has created global awareness for humanitarian aid and action at the same time by activating peoples’ words shared in social media and turning them into action – a world first marketplace for words.

Our solution: turn people’s words of support on social media into action. We created a first of its kind marketplace for words called ‘The World Needs More’.

Imagine if you said the world needs more #shelter, and it actually created shelter for someone.

Brands and individuals are invited to sponsor a word they think the world needs more of. Every time that word is shared using #TheWorldNeedsMore, a percentage of the sponsored amount is unlocked.

On World Humanitarian Day we launched the marketplace for words by asking a simple question. What do you think the world needs more of?

The marketplace for words was so successful that it’s become a permanent platform for the UN.

- Major brands and individuals sponsored words including Intel, Beyonce, Barclays, David Guetta and Gucci.

- 2.5 million words shared to date.

-Over $700,000 raised to date.

- 1.3 billion social media impressions earned.

- Hashtags #TheWorldNeedsMore #WHD2013 trended worldwide.

- First of its kind use of the UN building as a media space through an interactive projection of live tweets.

- Earned major international news and PR including New York Times, USA Today, Daily Mirror, CNN, Huffington Post, MTV, Bloomberg Business and Forbes.