Welcome to the UN Innovation Network

The UN Innovation Network (UNIN) is an informal, collaborative community of UN innovators from across the UN. In addition to promoting innovation overall, UNIN also hosts UN Groups on specific topics. UNIN is open to innovators from all UN Entities as well as external partners.

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Innovation Library

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April 8, 2024

WFP Innovation Accelerator - Year in Review 2023

The WFP Innovation Accelerator Year in Review 2023 showcases the tangible impact of its efforts to source, support and scale innovations ending hunger and achieving the SDGs.

March 27, 2024

WFP Global Data Strategy 2024 – 2026

WFP's first-ever global data strategy is rooted in the WFP I&T strategy and charts an ambitious course for the organization's use of data and emerging technologies to accelerate progress toward the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

March 22, 2024

Strengthening Gender Equality in Generative AI

Strengthening Gender Equality in Generative AI (online side-event of the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women)

January 1, 2024

Placing gender equality at the heart of the Global Digital Compact: Taking forward the recommendations of the sixty seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women

This paper, prepared by UN Women in collaboration with the Action Coalition on Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality, aims to help governments, policymakers, multilateral organizations, the private sector, and civil society build consensus around a gender-transformative framework to advance women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment in the digital age.

Innovation Library

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April 8, 2024

WFP

WFP Innovation Accelerator - Year in Review 2023

The WFP Innovation Accelerator Year in Review 2023 showcases the tangible impact of its efforts to source, support and scale innovations ending hunger and achieving the SDGs.

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March 27, 2024

WFP Global Data Strategy 2024 – 2026

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March 22, 2024

Strengthening Gender Equality in Generative AI

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March 21, 2024

Digital Financial Inclusion Toolkit

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March 15, 2024

Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023

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March 22, 2024

Strengthening Gender Equality in Generative AI

Strengthening Gender Equality in Generative AI (online side-event of the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women)

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March 12, 2024

How to Strengthen Your Prompt Engineering Skills: A Guide by Microsoft's AI Experts

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March 5, 2024

Dos and Don’ts – A Hands-On Intro to Using GenAI

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February 16, 2024

WFP Innovation Accelerator Pitch Event

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January 17, 2024

Technical Deep Dive on UN Generative AI Use Cases

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April 8, 2024

WFP Innovation Accelerator - Year in Review 2023

The WFP Innovation Accelerator Year in Review 2023 showcases the tangible impact of its efforts to source, support and scale innovations ending hunger and achieving the SDGs.

April 8, 2024

Learn more

March 27, 2024

WFP Global Data Strategy 2024 – 2026

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March 21, 2024

Digital Financial Inclusion Toolkit

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March 15, 2024

Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023

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March 5, 2024

The dark side of AI for medicine, pharmacology and bioengineering

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"Without innovation, there is no way we can overcome the challenges of our time." António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Blog Posts

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UNDP’s leap on a blockchain odyssey – А digital revolution for sustainable development

March 5, 2024

UNICEF

Digital public infrastructure – blessing or curse for women and girls?

April 9, 2024

UNCDF

The Steep Climb of Female Founders in Tech in Uganda

As this year’s International Women's Day calls for investment in women to accelerate progress, a reality emerges in Uganda's developing innovation ecosystem. While the landscape has flourished in recent years, a significant funding gap persists, disproportionately impacting female founders.

March 26, 2024

General Assembly adopts landmark resolution on artificial intelligence

The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted a landmark resolution on the promotion of “safe, secure and trustworthy” artificial intelligence (AI) systems that will also benefit sustainable development for all.

March 21, 2024

UN Women

Why gender equality in technology is more urgent than ever

Technology and gender equality are two key enablers for the Sustainable Development Goals, yet there is a lack of commitment to bridging the gender digital divide. UN Women’s Hélène Molinier explains.

March 15, 2024

UNICEF

Digital public infrastructure – blessing or curse for women and girls?

Digital public infrastructure (DPI) can enhance public service delivery and help achieve sustainable development goals but its design and implementation must consciously address and bridge gender digital gaps to serve all citizens effectively.

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UN Groups

UNIN's UN Groups dive deeper into selected innovation areas to allow for deeper exchange in more specialised fields.

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Behavioural Science

Blockchain

Innovation Scaling

Generative AI

Latest Projects

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February 17, 2022

Proof of Concept

Bike Ambulances to improve Emergency Obstetric Care in Rural Areas

Maternal mortality and morbidity rates remain high in Cote d’Ivoire. It is estimated that more than six women out of a thousand are dying while delivering birth, while 0.7% of the women of childbearing age have fistula in the country (MICS, 2016). While the strengthening of the health system is taking place, women in the country, especially in the rural area, stay vulnerable to the high risk of maternal death and morbidity. From behavioral perspectives, the barriers that leads to the three delays–(1) deciding to seek care; (2) identifying and reaching a medical facility; (3) receiving adequate and appropriate treatment may include the following (Cichowitz et al., 2018): Factors related to the first delay: social norms (community prefers to deliver at home), limited transportation and health care services at night, and negative experience in hospitals in the past (lack of trust). Factors related to the second delay of reaching a medical facility: a lack of available transportation, long travel times, and perception of high medical costs (walking 36.5%, car 34.6%, bus 13.5%, and motorcycle 13.5% in case of a study in Tanzania). In this context, this rapid prototyping initiative seeks to develop a new low-cost, safe transportation for women to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity in rural areas, by tackling the barriers that often lead to delay of emergency obstetric care (EmOC). It also aims to collect and utilize the GPS data/information of the bike ambulances to enable regional hospitals and the government to make better decisions in providing care, utilize hospital ambulances efficiently, and enhance communication between the care-seeker and care-provider.

February 28, 2024

Scale-Up

FunDoo: Train for life, one skill at a time

FunDoo is an ally for youth. It provides a range of information, from career development and mental health to climate change, gender-based violence, vaccine uptake, and much more, and prepares young people to seize opportunities and confront challenges. The platform enables young people to face a rapidly changing world, make informed decisions, become responsible citizens, and achieve their full potential. With a growing community of 1 million users enrolled globally, FunDoo has over 180 available tasks, with simple, actionable prompts for youth.

June 23, 2023

Scale-Up

Adolescent Health Dashboard

A tool that helps users better understand the health challenges faced by adolescents locally and globally.

June 26, 2023

Pilot

Dreaming of Lebanon

The virtual reality documentary “Dreaming of Lebanon” provides an immersive experience into the lives of young Lebanese people and their hopes for the future. The documentary utilizes cutting-edge 360-degree filming technology that enable viewers to engage in an interactive interview with three young Lebanese from various walks of life and different places of the country to explore their realities.

Challenges & Calls

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April 18, 2024

SOLVE

Global Challenges 2024

April 26, 2024

AU Digital and Innovation Fellowship - Cohort 2

About the UN Innovation Network

The UN Innovation Network (UNIN) is an informal, collaborative community of UN innovators interested in sharing their expertise and experience with others to promote and advance innovation within the UN System.

The Network hosts regular knowledge sharing sessions, helps Entities share tools, resources and best practices for innovating in the UN and offers advice on how to build structures to promote innovation, activate innovation partnerships and create a culture of innovation in their organisations.

UNIN is open to innovators from all UN Entities and to date, colleagues from over 70 entities in over 180 countries have joined the Network.

The UN Innovation Network is jointly chaired and funded by UNDP, UNICEF and WFP.

Who is UNIN

UNIN Organisational Members

UNIN Co-Chairs

Join the UN Innovation Network

We encourage everyone interested in innovation - from all across the UN and beyond - to join the UN Innovation Network to collaborate, share experiences and innovate for the Sustainable Development Goals.

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