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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Innovation Library

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Webinars
Publications
May 1, 2025
UN - ODET
UNDP

UNDC Deep Dive | Safeguarding Digital Transformation: The Digital Public Infrastructure Approach

This session explores Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—an approach that has accelerated inclusive digital transformation in countries such as India, Brazil, and Estonia. Our speakers addressed what DPI is—and what it isn’t, the guiding principles shaping the UN’s vision for DPI and how to navigate the opportunities and challenges of DPI at scale.

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April 8, 2025

WFP Innovation Accelerator 2024 Year in Review

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March 20, 2025

UNDC Spotlight Series | Leveraging Digital Technologies and Capacities for Gender Equality

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March 20, 2025

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | D4WEE

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March 20, 2025

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | Shakti

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Webinar
May 1, 2025
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UNDC Deep Dive | Safeguarding Digital Transformation: The Digital Public Infrastructure Approach

This session explores Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—an approach that has accelerated inclusive digital transformation in countries such as India, Brazil, and Estonia. Our speakers addressed what DPI is—and what it isn’t, the guiding principles shaping the UN’s vision for DPI and how to navigate the opportunities and challenges of DPI at scale.

Learn more
March 20, 2025
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Webinar

UNDC Spotlight Series | Leveraging Digital Technologies and Capacities for Gender Equality

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March 20, 2025
|
Webinar

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | D4WEE

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March 20, 2025
|
Webinar

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | Shakti

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March 20, 2025
|
Webinar

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | Laaha

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April 8, 2025
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WFP Innovation Accelerator 2024 Year in Review

With colleagues, partners and supporters, the WFP Innovation Accelerator achieved significant results in 2024 in deploying innovative solutions worldwide.

April 8, 2025
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February 28, 2025
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Beyond Numbers: A New Approach to Impact Storytelling

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February 27, 2025
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Cultivating UN Innovation Communities: Key Questions and Considerations

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February 16, 2025
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Innovation Portfolio Sense-Making

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February 7, 2025
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World Smart Cities Outlook 2024

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UNET
UN - ODET
UN - UNYO
OSET
WIPO
UN Tourism
WTO
UPU
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CEB
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ITU
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UNICC
WHO
UNIDO
UN Habitat
"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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Building the Future Now: Why AI in the Public Sector Must Be Shaped, Not Just Deployed

May 8, 2025
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UNDP

@UN_innovation

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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

Digital

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 24, 2025
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GENAIE - Generative AI for Education

In collaboration with University College London (UCL), UNFPA applied cutting edge AI technology to create GENAIE (Generative AI Education), an automated content generation platform that provides large volumes of high quality, consistent e-learning and training content in a matter of minutes so that healthcare professionals can stay updated with the latest regulations and healthcare standards.

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 4, 2024
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Kits that Fit

Kits that Fit is a system that empowers communities receiving humanitarian assistance to tell UNICEF what they most need to start the road to recovery. Kits that Fit team collects direct feedback from the kit recipients by using mainstreamed UNICEF digital innovations such as RapidPro and Internet of Good Things (IOGT), analyzes data, and creates and provides emergency kits that align with the actual needs and preferences of the communities they are intended to help.

Challenges & Calls

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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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