Global Innovation Centre

Transcription

1 Get in touch UNICEF Office of Innovation 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY unicefstories.org and unicef.org/innovation unicefstories.org and unicef.org/innovation UNICEF/Lister Global Innovation Centre

2 Welcome Thank you for your interest in UNICEF s Global Innovation Centre. UNICEF is the world s leading children s organization, working in 190 countries to defend and realize the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged. The Sustainable Development Goals impact every aspect of a child s well-being and UNICEF is committed to seeing that the Goals deliver results for every child and for generations to come. We need to be creative and innovative to achieve this. And we can t do it alone: we need help from the brightest minds in the private sector, governments and academia. Since launching in 2015, the Global Innovation Centre has worked with partners to develop and scale a range of transformative projects. Our real-time information platform, RapidPro, has powered half a billion data exchanges, measuring and monitoring what matters for children in 41 countries. U-Report, our youth empowerment platform, is now available in 39 countries and the poll data we ve collected from 4 million U-Reporters has changed laws and lives. Our UPSHIFT initiative is giving the most vulnerable young people new skills and hope for the future. And our Internet of Good Things provides free online information to over 10.7 million users worldwide, helping to bridge the digital divide. We re proud of what we ve achieved so far but we re just getting started. As technologies and approaches evolve, there will be even more we can do. By working with like-minded partners, we can bring forward the day when every child survives and thrives; learns; is protected from violence and exploitation; lives in a safe and clean environment; and has an equitable chance in life. If you re committed to harnessing the power of innovation and technology for social good, we d love to hear from you. Together, we can help build a better world for every child. Tanya Accone Deputy, UNICEF Global Innovation Centre Photo Kyria Abrahams

3 About us UNICEF/Tylle UNICEF has a 70-year history of innovating for children. We believe that new approaches, partnerships and technologies that support realizing children s rights are critical to improving their lives. UNICEF s Office of Innovation has three pillars: The Futures pillar shapes emerging technologies that will impact children in the next 2 5 years. The Ventures pillar prototypes and tests potential solutions to be ready within two years. Here at the Global Innovation Centre (GIC), we identify proven solutions and implement them at national scale in multiple countries. The GIC comprises an international team of experts and practitioners, with backgrounds in humancentred design, technology, change management and international development. We take gamechanging innovations and deploy them at scale, across multiple countries and contexts. Our goal is to implement and scale global solutions that will help the world s most vulnerable children, using funds efficiently and effectively. We ensure that our projects can be easily replicated, set up and utilized anywhere, allowing us to help children and families in the most hard-to-reach places. This approach is economical, adaptable to the local context and open to constant improvement.

4 How we work UNICEF The GIC never works alone. We collaborate with private sector partners, governments, universities and communities, leveraging opportunities and technologies that will transform children s lives. Whether it s providing free online information to mothers in South Africa or empowering young people in Viet Nam through our social impact programmes, we are harnessing the power of innovation to help children, families and communities worldwide. Identifying the next big idea In such a crowded landscape it can be challenging to spot the next big thing. That s why we have developed a rigorous framework to screen and prioritize promising innovations. We take on projects that will deliver the best outcomes for children and have significant impact. Potential projects Supported projects Scope assessment Fit with UNICEF s mandate and alignment with innovation principles. Expertise assessment Does the initiative utilize GIC or partner expertise? Is there a geographic fit with UNICEF programmes? Impact assessment Is the initiative scalable? Is the initiative sustainable? Portfolio selection Selection of highimpact projects with scope and expertise match for GIC portfolio. Accelerator for Scale Fund Pooled funding vehicle for scaling innovative solutions.

5 Work with us UNICEF/Herwig In our hyper-connected, globalized world, people, technologies and ideas are moving more rapidly than ever before. There is an unprecedented opportunity for us to come together and create large-scale change for children. UNICEF works with the most effective organizations to save and protect millions of children. UNICEF is on the ground in 190 countries, and we see the evolving challenges that are facing children and young people from disease outbreaks and populations on the move, to urbanization and climate change. We pair these changing realities on the ground with efficient, effective and creative solutions to address them. The GIC works to bring these solutions to every corner of the world. With the GIC s support, an idea that helps thousands in one country can be deployed to help millions in many countries. What s unique about engaging with us? Everything we do is rooted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Our mandate is driven by the need to fulfil every single child s right to survive, thrive and achieve their potential to the benefit of a better world. The solutions we deploy are field-tested and carefully designed with the user in mind, ensuring our innovations are useful and fit for purpose. One investment benefits multiple countries: the GIC acts as a global centre of knowledge, sharing insights across UNICEF offices around the world. We are practitioners and thought leaders, convening leading expertise and funding around innovating for children. The GIC is a voice for innovation in the humanitarian sector, highlighting the power of innovation to transform children s lives.

6 Our current portfolio UNICEF/Lister The Global Innovation Centre oversees a portfolio of innovations that are scaling in multiple countries. Each of these innovations is tied to the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the countries of the United Nations to change the way we develop our world through to Our portfolio covers four main areas: Real-time information Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16 and 17 Our portfolio is guided by UNICEF s innovation principles and we source innovative solutions both internally and externally. Youth empowerment Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 Access to information Aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17 UNICEF s principles for innovation and technology in development are: user-focused design; understanding the existing ecosystem; designing for scale; building for sustainability; being data driven; using Open Standards, Open Data, Open Source, and Open Innovation; reusing and improving; protecting the users and their data; collaboration. Design for children Human-centred design contributes to accelerating results across the Sustainable Development Goals

7 Real-time information UNICEF/Herwig RapidPro Unmonitored and unmeasured problems go unsolved. The ability to access credible, up-todate information about the situation of children is indispensable to improving their lives and protecting their rights. RapidPro is a powerful tool that allows workers in even the most remote, far-flung corners of the world to reach those most in need using accurate and timely information. RapidPro s open source software enables UNICEF and partners to gather data on vital areas such as health, nutrition, education and child protection. The platform allows users to easily design, pilot and scale services that connect directly with a mobile phone user, without the help of a software developer. RapidPro can now reach even more people by integrating with popular channels including Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Line, WhatsApp and Viber. With easier access through these everyday channels, expectant mothers in Mexico can get essential health information and young people in Malawi can access free counselling advice. The possibilities are endless. Case study: RapidPro in Indonesia Across Java, millions of children like three-year-old Akhsan (pictured) are receiving Measles and Rubella vaccines as part of the government s biggest ever immunization drive, reaching 35 million children. RapidPro is making a huge difference. With RapidPro, we get the information [on coverage] immediately, and can see where there are problems, says Ibu Ani, who heads the health agency in Semarang. She describes one day she identified unexpectedly low coverage at one of the 26 health centres in her district. A phone call showed why: parents at a 1,000-student boarding school were concerned the vaccines were haram, or forbidden by Islam. A subsequent visit from a religious leader reassured parents. [Because of RapidPro] I was able to discover the root of this problem quickly, Ani says, and within 24 hours we were already going there [to vaccinate at the school].

8 Youth empowerment UNICEF/Van Giao UPSHIFT The UPSHIFT programme supports the most disadvantaged young people to become social innovators. UPSHIFT helps vulnerable young people identify challenges in their communities and create entrepreneurial solutions to address them. Through a combination of training and mentorship, participants gain valuable transferable skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and leadership. They have an opportunity to pitch their ideas to experts, and the most promising solutions receive seed funding. Participants gain confidence, build resilience and learn how to create change. Their local communities benefit from new solutions. Most importantly, these young people walk away with new hope for the future. Case study: UPSHIFT in Viet Nam More than half of Southeast Asia s 630 million people are under the age of 30. If they have the skills and opportunities they need, these young people will ensure the future prosperity and stability of their countries. In Viet Nam, the UPSHIFT programme is providing skills training for 3,000 adolescents and is incubating 15 youth-led projects, benefitting more than 22,000 young people. Crucially, UPSHIFT is helping to ensure that the most marginalized children learn vital transferable skills: 60 per cent of participants have disabilities. The majority of hearing-impaired people are illiterate in Viet Nam, an issue that Co (pictured) wanted to address. I lost my hearing when I was 5 or 6. I had a dream to start a class on sign language and Vietnamese to help hearing-impaired people. My project has been supported by UPSHIFT s seed fund. We are implementing it in Bien Hoa City.

9 UNICEF/James U-Report U-Report is a messaging tool that empowers young people around the world to engage with and speak out on issues that matter to them. It works by gathering opinions and information from young people on topics they care about ranging from employment and discrimination to child marriage. U-Reporters respond to polls, report issues and support child rights. The data and insights are shared back with communities and connected to policy makers who make decisions that affect young people. U-Report is available via SMS or social media, and works on even a basic mobile phone. It s free, anonymous and easy to use. There are now more than 4 million U-Reporters in 39 countries including Syria and a new U-Reporter joins the platform every 30 seconds. Case study: U-Report in emergencies U-Report is usually used to poll opinions, but when emergencies strike it can save lives. When devastating floods and landslides ripped through Sierra Leone in August 2017, U-Report was quickly deployed to understand the needs of those affected and to deliver life-saving information. Within 24 hours, around 2,000 U-Reporters had responded. Many reported that their water sources had been damaged. UNICEF and partners followed up by messaging over 70,000 people about the risks of using contaminated water. By analysing the real-time data, we were also able to determine which water sources were affected and deliver clean water to communities in need. Daniel was caught in the disaster. He told us: Whatever information U-Report shares, I share with everyone in my tent. It is useful because there has not been a single case of cholera.

10 Access to Information UNICEF/Marcelino The Internet of Good Things Right now, around 4 billion people remain offline, unable to access the knowledge economy. UNICEF is working to bridge the digital divide and give all children and families access to essential information. The Internet of Good Things (IoGT) is a set of free mobile and web-based resources and applications. It delivers life-saving and lifeimproving information free of charge, even on low-end devices. People can access the platform at any time, without the cost of a data plan. Information on IoGT is customized for each location and available in local languages. Topics cover child online safety, violence and protection, health for mothers and children, early learning materials for younger children as well as emergency information. By mid-2017, IoGT was available in 61 countries and territories. More than 1 million internet users access UNICEF s IoGT content every month, and the number of IoGT users doubled from 5.3 million in 2015 to 10.7 million in Case study: IoGT in South Africa For many parents, being able to access information online can be a lifesaver. However, data costs are prohibitively expensive for the most vulnerable people. In South Africa, the IoGT is helping more than 100,000 people access parenting tips every month, free of data charges. I used to not play with my child, but since I entered the site I play with him every single moment, said one user. Through sharing advice and information, the IoGT is helping children get a better start in life.

11 Design for Children UNICEF/Dormino Human-centred design The first of UNICEF s innovation principles is design with the user making sure that a project takes a user-centric approach. Human-centred design (HDC) takes this a step further by using a set of tools to tailor solutions for children using repeatable, human-centred methods for creative problem solving and innovation. This approach to developing new innovations takes inspiration from real people, works within market and technological constraints, and ensures the entire design process is rooted in the real world. An HCD approach has huge value for the creation of child-centred policies, programmes and services. It also helps service providers and systems to deliver better results for children. As a methodology for improving the effectiveness of UNICEF s work, HCD is helping to strengthen results across the board. Case study: Human-centred design in Nicaragua In the village of Orinoco, Nicaragua, birth registration rates were worryingly low. Without a birth certificate, a child may be unable to access basic rights such as going to school and receiving access to health care. UNICEF decided to work with local government officials to find a humancentred design solution. UNICEF s research found that many of the parents in the village regarded birth registration as a difficult and bureaucratic process often involving costly travel with little direct benefit. After 15 months of planning and feedback clinics, including a co-creation workshop, a number of solutions were found, including an SMS-based system to improve the real-time information gathering of communal health workers who support pregnant women.

12 Our partners UNICEF/Al-Issa We cannot achieve truly transformational change on our own. That s why we are committed to inspiring and engaging others who can help accelerate our mission of scaling technologies to transform children s lives. We collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of people working across industries, countries and cultures. These connections may come through the innovation pipeline, via Country Offices or from strategic partners. Government We work with governments to bring successful solutions to scale, supporting local entrepreneurs, and addressing the evolving challenges affecting all children. Private sector We convene with corporations (like Arm, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Viber), designers, entrepreneurs, and other development partners (including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the GE Foundation) to bring life-changing technologies to children around the world. During Hurricane Irma our U-Report team worked with Facebook Messenger and Viber to help disseminate important safety messages. This collaboration helped us reach even more children in danger, and potentially saved lives. We have partnered with the Government of the Republic of Korea (a founding strategic partner) to scale innovations globally.

13 Academic We bring shared value through the exchange of ideas, joint capacity building and opportunities for applied research. Use partners We collaborate with other organizations to scale up our projects and reach as many children as possible. Working with one of China s top-ranked universities, Tsinghua University, we have established the Tsinghua University Global Innovation Centre for Children. Our partnership with Rhodes University s Biotechnology Innovation Centre in South Africa is focused on work to revolutionize an approach to diagnostic tests to make them more accessible to those furthest away from medical facilities. Our partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides is bringing U-Report to Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world. Together, we re empowering girls to become advocates for issues that affect them. The Guides are using U-Report for their own programmes on gender-based-violence and self-esteem.

14 Join us UNICEF/Dawe If you share our vision and values, we d love to hear from you. We re looking for partners who are open to working in a collaborative manner bringing resources and expertise to the table, challenging and inspiring each other, and being willing to learn together as we create a new model for development partnerships that will achieve scale and deliver results faster. In addition to a financial contribution, strategic partners support the GIC s work by engaging their knowledge, resources, networks and technology to assist in scaling and co-creating innovations. Corporate partners Based on our portfolio, we are seeking strategic partners with expertise in the following areas: Health Telecommunications Education Data Communications and marketing Franchising and scale up models Financial services. Governments Governments are critical partners when it comes to scaling up and adopting proven solutions at a national level. The Government of the Republic of Korea is a strategic partner of the GIC and we are seeking other like-minded government partners who can contribute their policy, regulation and governance expertise.

15 Get in touch UNICEF Office of Innovation 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY unicefstories.org and unicef.org/innovation unicefstories.org and unicef.org/innovation UNICEF/Lister Global Innovation Centre