Accelerating Results for Children with Technology and Digital Innovation

Over the last few years, there has been increasing recognition of the critical role of digital innovation and technology for development (T4D) to UNICEF programming and accelerating support to the Sustainable Development Goals. With the global emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, digital development has become an integral component of UNICEF’s work as national programmes shifted to distance and remote delivery means. This report highlights examples of country-level COVID-19 response initiatives employing digital innovation and T4D approaches, in support of both its humanitarian action and development programmes. It further demonstrates how the scale-up of T4D’s strategic integration in programming and digital innovations has allowed UNICEF to support programme partners in closing gaps to meet children’s needs, often under complex environments, and in line with existing national systems. These initiatives span UNICEF programmes worldwide and help address children’s health, nutrition, education, protection, access to water, sanitation and hygiene, and inclusion. The report also presents data, facts, stories, images and top results from 2018 through the first quarter of 2020 across UNICEF’s five programmatic areas.