Today’s world faces different situations and challenges than before. The pandemic has once again reminded us of the importance of digitalization, and the rapid development of artificial intelligence in the past few years has provided us with more possibilities to solve development problems. I am glad that the United Nations has been able to keep pace with the times and better serve the world by changing the way it operates.
A joint initiative of Purpose and the United Nations, Verified is a crisis communications model designed to adeptly respond to intersecting crises in an era of prolific mis- and disinformation. Heavily based on behavioral science insights, it cuts through the noise around global crises and deliver critical fact-based advice and information.
The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria continues to be one of the most severe and complex globally. The CrisisNet kit offers a world of communication to humanitarians to power their response — all in just one box.
The Gender Data Lab (GDL) initiative aims to establish a dedicated team within existing government structures, such as National Statistical Offices, to accelerate gender data availability and promote evidence-based policymaking.
H2Grow is WFP’s hydroponics initiative that brings locally adapted and affordable hydroponic solutions to vulnerable communities. WFP is leveraging on learnings to provide technical support to local farmers implementing hydroponics. The Innovation Unit is exploring blended finance models that will contribute to reducing the cost of hydroponics to facilitate scale and broad adoption of the solution. The Unit is also supporting a global Community of Practice around hydroponics through the H2Grow Platform, and the roll-out of hydroponics training for farmers through the Hydro App.
WFP has invested in MEZA – which translates to ‘table’ in Swahili – an artificial intelligence (AI) solution that uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to decode handwritten medical data into machine-readable information. The solution also assists in consolidating this data into the national government’s health database to support accurate and timely reporting on health treatment for effective management of acute malnutrition. MEZA is designed to specifically support remote health centres that have limited access to electricity and internet, preventing them from using the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system currently being deployed in the country.
The Innovation Unit is decentralizing WFP’s efforts to impact food security and foster innovation ecosystems at county level. This will leverage the successful partnership between the Government and WFP to support the design, set up and running of County-level Innovation Centres (CICs). The overall goal of the CICs is to support the development of highly scalable, field tested, innovative solutions that support strengthening of resilience for vulnerable populations in the Arid and Semi-Arid lands. These innovation centers are designed to be safe spaces for county government staff, beneficiaries, and innovators to access training on innovation methodologies to develop solutions to problems faced in the counties and beyond. The centers will also provide deep field access where innovative solutions are tested rapidly with the target beneficiaries for richer learnings. Additionally, the centres will provide access to funding opportunities for innovative ideas, entrepreneurs, and startups.
WFP’s EMPACT (EMPowerment in ACTion) programme is a digital livelihoods programme delivering a blended curriculum that combines technical and soft skills training curriculum through a learn-and-earn model that also connects trainees to digital work opportunities. EMPACT was launched at the Kibera Town Center in 2021 following the socio-economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, more than 1,000 youth have been trained under the programme with 41 percent earning money from online work.
The Equity 2030 Alliance aims to build an equitable future for all by closing gaps in gender inclusive solutions in science, technology, and financing. The Alliance leverages the collective power of positive disruptors to close the gender equity gap in science and technology design. The Alliance seeks to accelerate actions to normalize gender equity in science and technology by introducing data-driven arguments and strategies. We believe our actions will lead towards an inclusive, sustainable, and gender equitable future where women’s voices are heard, their needs are met, and their potential is fulfilled.
The Data to Policy Network, a collaborative effort between UNDP and UNOSSC, connects a global community of policymakers and fosters knowledge sharing on how to harness emerging data sources for evidence-based policymaking.
Disha is a multi-partner initiative that aims to accelerate ethical and responsible access to data and AI solutions to unlock social impact at scale.
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