Innovation Projects run by UN Entities

Each year the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) conducts an exercise to verify the continuing eligibility of UNJSPF retirees/beneficiaries to the benefits they are receiving. As part of this exercise, each individual in receipt of a benefit must submit an annual proof of existence. The UNJSPF Digital Certificate of Entitlement (DCE) app, launched in 2021, with the support of the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), addresses this challenge of verifying the identity and location of UNJSPF retirees/beneficiaries worldwide. This state-of-the-art mobile authentication solution leverages blockchain, biometrics/facial recognition, and global positioning technologies. The DCE offers a secure, efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to the traditional paper-based proof-of-existence exercise. It allows retirees and beneficiaries to complete the exercise using their mobile devices, either on or off-line, eliminating the need for paper and postal services, with a secure identity verification conducted through facial recognition. Aligned with the UNJSPF strategy to enhance client experience and modernize services, as of November 2023, over 40% of the retiree and beneficiary population has enrolled in the DCE app.

With the increasing use and dependency on digital technologies, digital transformation has become a fundamental aspect of public policy in the past decades globally. As one of the key policy areas, migration management is no exception to such efforts. Robust digital systems and digitalized procedures are essential aspects of every effective migration and border management system. Digital access to public services for migrants, such as registration, visas, residence permits, identity documents, as well as the use of digital technologies in migration management including processing asylum applications, referral and case management, border security, and returns, have become essential in ensuring that procedures and services are effective, accessible and rights oriented.

Developed by UNICEF, Oky is a girl-centered digital solution for menstruation, sexual and reproductive health education and period tracking, that addresses the taboos, misconceptions, and lack of quality information surrounding reproductive health. As an approved Digital Public Good, Oky is co-created with and for adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries, including girls with disabilities. Using a gamified interface, Oky, works on low-end devices and for phone sharing, and has highest data protection and privacy by design. Oky is currently live in 12 countries in 17 languages with more than 800,000 users.

Digital Readiness Assessments in four countries; workshops for government on digital development principles; grants scheme for CSOs on online harms, mis/disinformation, and tech-facilitated abuse; policy studies on Information Pollution in the Pacific and Behavioural Change Approaches to Online Gender-Based Violence

HOPE is UNICEF’s humanitarian cash transfer management information system. HOPE allows to register and target beneficaries, track approval of payment list send them to payment providers, process reconciliation and payment verification and facilitate grievances and feedbacks.

FAO under its office of innovation is supporting member countries (Morocco, Ethiopia, Grenada, and Dominica to innovate through establishing country-focused and country designed models of innovation hubs, through which FAO and partners can support innovation in agriculture. Global Network Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs in countries established to mainstream digital agriculture innovation while promoting the digital transformation of agri-food systems. In each country (Morocco, Ethiopia, Grenada and Domonica), the respective Digital Agriculture Innovation Hub has been designed considering the national strategic priorities, digital maturity in the country, and local needs. Then various national Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs and stakeholders interconnected to share knowledge, experience, and expertise. Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs are public-private partnerships for innovation, providing a mix of different services to their clients. These include technology services such as R&D, provision of lab facilities, testing and validation are mainly the domain of the competence centers. Innovation ecosystem support services include community building lobbying, brokerage, knowledge sharing and advocacy.

The Learning Passport is a new solution designed to close the learning poverty gap, the Learning Passport is an Online, Mobile, and Offline tech platform enabling high quality, flexible learning

Farm2Go is WFP's digital solution to support smallholder farmer programme activities. It connects aggregators to local buyers and enables smallholder farmers to get a better price for their produce.

In 2021, DGACM embarked on a project to define a new intergovernmental data model that could be used to record what happens at intergovernmental meetings. This new data model has unlock many new use cases, such as machine-generated notes for presiding officers, lists of resolutions, the schedule of the General Assembly and the public iGov platform. In parallel, we have started a pilot with speech-to-text software that would allow the generation of transcripts and summaries of any meeting taking place at UNHQ and UNOG, enriched with metadata contained in the data model. I could speak about what we have achieved so far and about the synergies between both projects.

The UN Digital ID is a universal and easy to use system-wide identity for each United Nations staff, from onboarding to retirement. Having a unique identification across the UN system reduces data fragmentation and duplication, with the potential to simplify and streamline processes and transactions across all business functions between staff and organizations, and also between UN organizations themselves. As a data exchange platform, the UN Digital ID will allow staff from participating organizations to share any of their HR and other personal information with complete visibility, consent and security. The MVP was launched on 3 June 2024 with WFP and UNJSPF focusing on the first use case on pension. The other organizations will follow shortly and the aim is to scale to more organizations and use cases across the UN system.

DrugDash is a web and mobile application for District Health Officers / Program Officers to see and understand real-time information on medicine supplies and commodities stock in their health facilities or areas of operation to make accurate and timely decisions on redistribution to reduce shortages and wastage.

YoMobi is a platform cooperative for youth development, a suite of digital tools to support digital youth work and enhance development programmes focussed on skills development, employment and engagement with youth.

Bebbo, UNICEF's innovative mobile app, addresses the critical need for accessible, high-quality parenting guidance. This open source digital public good provides comprehensive, evidence-based support in local languages to help children thrive from birth through early childhood, available offline for global accessibility. Bebbo is a game-changer in delivering universal parenting support, already benefiting over 1.2 million parents in 15 countries by promoting nurturing care and unlocking every child's potential. It's more than an app; it's a digital parenting revolution, empowering parents with tools for child development, health tracking, and personal well-being, also supporting children with disabilities and providing timely information in emergencies.

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.

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.

Agrokomek is a one-stop shop for practical knowledge – from localized market information on animal feed, veterinary pharmacies and clinics to climate-smart practices and a farmer-to-farmer forum. The app, Agrokomek, is based on FAO’s Digital Services Portfolio (DSP), which provides digital advisory services to rural communities, tailored to local contexts and needs, with easy access to useful data, informationand statistics that support more efficient, resilient and inclusive agrifood systems. Developing rural digital inclusion on the ground, it is part of a wider Organizational effort aiming at promoting the shift towards digitalization and modernization in agriculture, through an efficient use of digital tools for major improvements in the food and agriculture sector in the field.

UNFPA has launched a chatbot in India called ‘Just Ask!’ – an Artificial Intelligence (AI) digital engagement platform for adolescents and young adults, aimed to help them learn about their sexual and reproductive health and rights The chatbot provides a secure, personalized and non-judgemental space for adolescents and young adults in India (15-29 years) to explore information, become aware of their rights, debunk myths, and seek services on issues related to sexual and reproductive health and rights. The tool helps users to make informed decisions by forking over facts created and vetted solely by UNFPA, and aims to generate interest in topics often misunderstood or steeped in shame such as puberty, menstruation, sexual and gender identity, safe sex and contraception, among others. The platform has been developed in line with UNFPA’s guide on safe and ethical use of technology, keeping user data privacy at the core of its design.

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.

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

The UN is increasingly turning to immersive storytelling to brief decision makers in New York on international affairs. In December 2022, UN DPPA invited diplomats to try out Virtual Reality (VR) on the work of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. This documentary captures their impressions and comments following their first-time encounter with VR.

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.

“Pathways Colombia” is an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience about the peace process in Colombia. As Colombia commemorates the 5th anniversary of the signing of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement which brought an end to more than five decades of conflict between the former FARC-EP, the film focuses on the challenges and opportunities of peace consolidation in Colombia, including reintegration, security, and reconciliation efforts. “Pathways Colombia” comprises three episodes that will give you an impression of how it is like to be on the ground in Colombia and introduce you to the personal story of former combatants as well as local communities and victims of the conflict. Through their voices, the VR experience illustrates achievements and obstacles in the reintegration and reconciliation process, while at the same time bringing to light persisting security challenges and resilience of all those committed to achieving sustainable peace in the country.

I-CoDI seeks to help close the digital innovation divide by providing a safe co-design space for ITU Members and other stakeholders to develop innovative strategies that accelerate digital transformation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I-CoDI is now developing a network of ITU regional offices (MENA, Africa and Asia Pacific Region) and partners that use I-CoDI’s co-design toolkit and its approach to bring ITU resources, ITU expertise and stakeholders together and co-create solutions to challenges that Member States in the region have better, faster and in a cost-efficient manner. ITU’s International Centre of Digital Innovation (I-CoDI) provides a model for co-designing with a set of processes aiming to build synergies between stakeholders, increase speed, productivity, innovation and deliver outcomes with tangible impact in the region. It encompasses a set of tools and methodologies each catered to target and resolve common and frequent challenges for meaningful connectivity in the regions.

In Mali and The Gambia, an interdisciplinary consortium is implementing an agrophotovoltaics (APV) project. “APV-MaGa”, is based on an integrated triple land use system that allows for the production of food, electricity and water through rainwater harvesting. In dry, hot and sunny climatic regions like Mali and the Gambia, crops are expected to respond with higher yields as the partial shade of the PV panels protects them from excessive sun, heat and severe weather events hence, increasing climate change resilience. An intelligent systems based on smart sensors, microcontrollers respectively Internet of Things will be designed to monitor and collect real time data for water demand and water allocation for irrigation systems. Furthermore, web-access will be devloped in order to provide information on agricultural products and organized payment for various services offer to the community. The project is funded by BMBF Germany.

Launched in April 2020 in response to COVID-19, the UNODC “Lockdown Learners” series is a series of free-of-cost, activity-based interactive and continuous engagements with students and educators in India on themes pertaining to the pandemic and its impact on the SDGs (especially SDG 16), peace and the rule of law. The series is conducted in support of UNODC's global programme, the Education for Justice Initiative (E4J). The series includes sensitisation of students on issues such as cybercrime, misinformation, gender-based violence, discrimination, and corruption, among others. The Lockdown Learners series also provides a platform for students to receive mentorship and knowledge support to use their skills and ideas to address some of these problems. Since April 2020, over 350 interactive sessions have been conducted directly with over 10,000 students and educators, across 15 states/Union territories in India. Educational resources developed under E4J have been shared with over 19,000 students in the schools, besides across 636 Government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). Besides top schools and institutions from metropolitan cities, the series has proactively focused on reaching economically disadvantaged students and educators from low income groups and rural areas, with limited internet access. In what is being widely hailed as a “Good Practice” by educators in India, UNODC has conducted multiple sessions through Whatsapp and audio-recordings with students and educators from rural areas, enabling the participation of economically disadvantaged youth. The idea has also been to simplify the content in terms of language, and provide a safe, informal and dialogue-focused space for students to participate in open conversations, especially on themes that directly affect them in many cases. Parents and educators are reporting behavior changes, greater engagement and renewed commitment to society among students who are participating. Many students who have participated in the sessions are proactively thinking of social issues, emerging risks, SDGs and post COVID-19 roadmap. For instance, a growing number of students are teaching others to bridge digital divides, and spearheading “behavior-change” dialogues with their peers, parents and siblings. Educators have emphasized that students are more curious to know about SDGs and peace-related themes, and use their skills and talents to come up with solutions. This is evident in the wide range of creative and innovative products that students have created and shared with UNODC: these include songs, interactive videos, games, blogs, websites etc. Some are even designing social initiatives and network-building, especially on gender issues, cybercrime, peacebuilding, misinformation and discrimination.

360° video on the work of the UN in Iraq, filmed by DPPA's Pauline Gourlet and Daanish Masood in Baghdad, Mosul, Erbil and a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Salamyiah, Iraq.

“Sudan Now”, a 360-degree Virtual Reality video allows you to experience life in Sudan and the activities of the UN's new Special Political Mission, UNITAMS, in an immersive manner. Together with UNITAMS staff, you will travel virtually to Khartoum and Darfur, meet with representatives of the Transitional Government of Sudan, civil society activists, internally displaced persons, and young Sudanese people.