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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March 20, 2025
UN Women
UNICEF
UNFPA

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

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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March 20, 2025

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | Laaha

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March 5, 2025

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo Peacekeeping | CPAS

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Webinar
March 20, 2025
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UNDC Spotlight Series | Leveraging Digital Technologies and Capacities for Gender Equality

Learn more
March 20, 2025
|
Webinar

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | D4WEE

Learn more
March 20, 2025
|
Webinar

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | Shakti

Learn more
March 20, 2025
|
Webinar

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo on Gender Equality | Laaha

Learn more
March 5, 2025
|

UNDC Digital Transformation Expo Peacekeeping | CPAS

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

This guide is designed to inspire approaches for breaking down those silos by offering a multidisciplinary framework for more integrated, participatory and meaningful impact reporting.

February 28, 2025
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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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February 3, 2025
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Accelerating Sustainable Urban Futures: A Practical Guide for Challenge-driven Innovation in Cities

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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

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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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.

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.

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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