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United Nations Development Programme
PORTFOLIO | By Region
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Year in Review
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Contents
Key ………………………………………………………………………….. 3
REGIONAL INITIATIVES
Cross-Regional / Global ……………………………………………………. 4
Africa ………………………………………………………………………… 7
Arab States ………………………………………….…………………….… 15
Asia & the Pacific ……………………………….…………………………… 19
Europe & Central Asia ……………………………………………………… 32
Latin America & the Caribbean ……………………………………………. 35
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 2
Stage of Initiative
Early Stage – Ideas generated, prototypes created and initial user-feedback collected to further
develop the concept.
Testing & Evidence Collection – The initiative is being tested with a subset of target users,
partners, and stakeholders. Evidence is being collected to support an impact assessment and
feasibility analysis of the initiative before it progresses.
Scaling Up – Following testing, the initiative has solid data proving the effectiveness of the
innovation and is now working with partners to expand the scope.
Innovation Approaches
Alternative Finance | Behavioural Insights | Challenge Prizes |
Crowdfunding | Crowdsourcing | Foresight | Games for Social Good |
Human-Centered Design | Innovation Camps | Innovation Labs |
Micronarratives | New and Emerging Data | Real-Time Information
Systems | Sensing
Learn more about the approaches that the UNDP Innovation Facility
provides support on here.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 3
CROSS-REGIONAL
ARMENIA | EGYPT | KOSOVO*
FYR MACEDONIA | SUDAN | TUNISIA
Big Data Exploration
APPROACH: Big Data SDGs: 9, 11, 16, 17
New and unconventional data sources help to 3. Kosovo*- mapping hotspots of demand for
analyze patterns and identify needs in real- time, emergency services measured through
which enables UNDP and partners to develop emergency calls made to 112;
more relevant policies and programmes, deliver 4. FYR Macedonia - testing mobile phone
services more effectively and efficiently, and usage as a proxy for mobility patterns and
react quickly to shocks. This initiative comprised behaviour to improve resilience;
of six UNDP Country Offices, along with UN 5. Sudan- exploring electricity consumption
Global Pulse, UN Volunteers and national and night illumination data as a proxy for
partners, particularly national statistics offices, measurement of poverty levels; and
regulatory bodies, data protection agencies, 6. Tunisia- testing non-traditional sources,
mobile operators, etc. It explored the possibility particularly social media, for complementary
of integrating insights from new and emerging data on citizens’ perceptions and attitudes
data sources into development plans and on SDG 16.
programmes through hands-on trials.
All six trials resulted in insights on the value of
The six data-driven initiatives are: big data analysis to improve programming and
1. Armenia- leveraging mobile phone data to triggered the interest of national partners, who
generate real-time information on foreign were involved from inception. In 2016, four teams
and domestic tourists; plan to sign MOUs with mobile operators and will
2. Egypt- using big data from a Central continue to apply the big data analysis in their
Laboratory for Agriculture Climate (CLAC) programmes and project initiatives. A Big Data
sensor network to improve agriculture and Cookbook based on these experiences is being
irrigation management; designed for UNDP and other practitioners.
*under SCR 1244
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 4
CROSS-REGIONAL
BELARUS | MONTENEGRO | SUDAN | YEMEN
Social Innovation Challenge on
Technology for Citizen Engagement
APPROACH: Challenge SDGs: 16, 17
UNDP supports the smart use of innovation Mahallae.org, a platform scaled up from
and technologies to help narrow the gap running Challenges in Cyprus to becoming
between citizens and decision-makers. In the the vehicle for cross-regional collaboration
Arab States, Central Asia and Europe we saw between teams from the Arab States,
an opportunity to challenge citizens to find EUROPE & CENTRAL Asia.
the best technology-enabled solutions to
help address pressing development The four winning projects out of 67 entries
problems in more open, transparent, and are -- a mobile mechanism for accessing
collective ways. public information in Montenegro; a cloud-
based platform for increasing citizen
UNDP’s 2015 Technology for Citizen involvement in local decision-making in
Engagement Challenge invited ideas across Yemen; an online gamified platform for
38 countries and territories that leveraged citizen interaction in Sudan; and a mobile
technology for participatory peacebuilding. app and web service that helps citizens to
This Challenge enabled UNDP to explore collaborate on identifying and solving
new avenues, partners and ideas for problems in Belarus. All initiatives are now
peacebuilding support. It leveraged testing their prototypes with our support.
PACIFIC ISLANDS
Strategic Foresight for the Future of Resilience
in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
APPROACH: Foresight SDGs: 11, 13, 16
SIDS are at the frontline of adapting to premium. Foresight strategies that build
climate change. They so with limited resilient and responsive structures benefit
resources. Resilience, adaptation and SIDS.
capitalizing on opportunities are at a
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 5
CROSS-REGIONAL
The foresightXchange exercise brought together Programme for SIDS (SIDS-TEC), the Pacific
decision makers and planners from 10 Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the UNDP Global
countries in Fiji to identify and evaluate the Centre for Public Service Excellence (GCPSE).
potential applications of strategic foresight for the Participants explored novel ways of planning and
localization of SDGs. It aimed to improve the policy design to make implementation more
planning of national development visions; help resilient and adaptive to change.
national partners acquire the required skills set
while 'doing' foresight; and establish a learning Some regional leaders have adopted foresight for
network in the region. the identification of strategic opportunities for
inclusive development; adaptive and resilient
This is the second regional edition of the development planning; national, sectoral and
foresightXchange series, and was in collaboration organizational visioning; and ideation for public
with Singapore’s Technical Cooperation innovation in SIDS.
GLOBAL
Green Procurement Index in Health
APPROACHES: Behavioural Insights, SDGs: 3, 8 10, 12, 13, 17
Human-Centered Design
Procurement can leverage marked influence in GPIH has benefited from the SPHS network, which
the adoption of sustainability practices in the brings together more than 3,500 renowned
health sector, this is well demonstrated. The institutions, global leaders, suppliers and
challenge is to provide policy-makers and public manufacturers and technical experts.
procurers tools that guarantee the effective
implementation of green procurement criteria, In 2015, UNDP reached an important milestone in
and measure the positive impact made by public the GPIH initiative by developing an online
procurement organizations. engagement platform. The platform enables
policy makers, procurement officers, suppliers,
UNDP undertook a co-design process with key manufacturers and technical experts to learn
stakeholders from the global healthcare market. about the GPIH and provide feedback to facilitate
The Green Procurement Index Health (GPIH) gradual product and process adjustments. The
initiative improves the transparency and platform also introduces new products and
accountability of procurement in the health sector processes in the market, and serves as a
with regard to its environmental impact. It knowledge-hub on good practice examples on
encourages UN entities and their suppliers and introducing green procurement policies and
manufacturers to produce, procure and supply in practices in the global health aid market.
a more environmentally-friendly manner. The
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 6
AFRICA
BENIN
Leveraging Technology to Report and
Reduce Gender-based Violence
APPROACHES: Foresight, SDGs: 5, 10
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
Traditional social norms and beliefs have use, the integrated digital platform
fostered a culture that allows violent practices accommodates the local languages of Benin and
against women to become deeply entrenched, reporting will be free when sent through the
especially in rural areas. Despite efforts to networks of local partner telephone operators:
reduce the high rate of gender-based violence Libercom, MTN, and Moov. Currently, the app is
(GBV) in Benin, the problem persists and is being prototyped, and we are testing the impact
augmented by harmful traditional rituals and that user anonymity and safety has on increasing
practices. High levels of economic dependence the volume of GBV reports and reducing the
of women and girls and fear of repercussions social acceptance of such incidents.
from breadwinners make reporting of GBV
incidents challenging. The initiative created a new network of partners
from the private and public sector. Stakeholders
UNDP and partners tested a solution that allows in government and the police accepted the
users to report GBV incidents anonymously via proposal for the tech-based solution to
SMS or the internet to address the challenge of strengthen GBV reporting.
reporting. To facilitate widespread adoption and
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 7
AFRICA
BOTSWANA
Mobile Access to Justice and Social
Empowerment Lab
APPROACH: SDGs:
Human-Centered Design 5, 10
Access to justice is limited in rural organization based in Maun. The initiative
communities, home to some of the most used a human-centered design approach in
vulnerable population that lack resources to the development of the first prototype of the
travel to the city to secure legal aid. The services, and continued to adjust services
initiative provides mobile legal based on early user-feedback.
representation and psycho-social support
and empower to survivors of Gender Based Within two months, the pilot served over a
Violence (GBV) in the Ngamiland region of third of the villages in the Okavango Sub-
Botswana -- a region with high incidences of District. The counsellor referred 74 cases for
poverty and GBV. The initiative also exploring legal consultation. The involved partners are
the relationship between legal currently exploring a partnership with Legal
empowerment and GBV. UNDP worked with Aid Botswana to scale this approach further.
Women Against Rape (WAR), a human rights
BURKINA FASO
Training Female Solar Engineers
APPROACH: SDGs:
Human-Centered Design 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
As night descends in Burkina Faso, activity in skills-building programme. The initiative
many villages come to a halt due to lack of targeted elderly, illiterate women from
electrification. As part of an initiative remote, off-grid villages to become solar
promoting the use of renewable energy, we engineers, or “Solar Grandmothers”. At the
partnered with the Global Environment end of the programme, the women were
Facility in Burkina Faso and Barefoot College. tasked with teaching others and
Between 2011 and 2015, ten rural women withproviding solar energy in each of their
participated in a six-month solar energy respective villages.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 8
AFRICA
In 2015, following the success of the Within four years, the ten women have
program, we invested in adapting the model electrified 1,000 households and brought
to more districts. UNDP Burkina Faso worked light to over 14,500 villagers.
with 13 district governors, and with
stakeholders in regional governments to
scale the model.
CABO VERDE
Data Integration and Visual
Analytics for Climate Change
APPROACHES: Big Data, Foresight SDG: 13
Data Visualization
There is a high volume of climate change The work is being done in partnership with
a n d e n v i ro n m e n t i n f o r m at i o n b e i n g the Canada-UNDP Climate Change Facility
generated in Cabo Verde through the (CCAF), Government of Canada, University of
Canada-funded climate change adaptation Cabo Verde’s College of Agricultural and
project, as well as other Ministry and Environmental Sciences (ECAA) and the
association initiatives. However, this wide U n i v e r s i t y o f Wa r w i c k ’s C e n t e r f o r
range information is not systematically Interdisciplinary Methodologies.
captured, analyzed and shared making it
difficult to quickly access, digest and use to A beta version of the data input process is
enhance decision-making. This initiative being tested, and the front end of the data
establishes a streamlined way to consolidate visualization will be finalized in 2016. Also in
and analyze knowledge generated from all the pipeline is training and experience
programmes and projects in the area of sharing among countries implementing the
climate change adaptation. This information CCAF project, and testing the Beta (plus)
can then be shared with stakeholders in version of the visualization platform.
Cabo Verde at the national or subnational
level for improved decision-making.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 9AFRICA
COMOROS
Exploring Eco-friendly Essential Oil
Production by Women
APPROACH: SDGs:
Human-Centered Design 5, 10, 12
The Comoros islands are known for the distillation. The initiative is implemented in
production of essential oil, Ylang Ylang. partnership with the Clinton Foundation, and
However, despite women constituting the Government.
roughly half of the population, men
dominate the production process and A cohort of 37 women have been trained in
women are confined to gathering activities financial management, installation, distillation
limiting their economic benefits. The initiative techniques and the use of improved
seeks to strengthen the role of women at all distillation techniques. 2 separate home-
stages of the value chain, including improved distillation units have also been set-
distillation. Simultaneously, the project is up for women.
exploring more eco-friendly technologies for
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)
Innovative, Programmatic and
Operational Strategic ICT tools
APPROACH: Big Data SDGs: 12, 17
This initiative developed a set of innovative The initiative helped to -- support 3 countries
corporate tools for UNDP (e.g., the "Tracking b y s t re n g t h e n i n g i m p l e m e n t at i o n o f
Resource”) to facilitate both the mobilization Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers
of resources and the reduction of operating (HACT); follow-up on donor reports; and
costs in DRC and other recipient countries, as streamline operational cost by deployment of
many organizations have sought to do "more first integrated fleet management system
with less" resources. within UNDP. Through this initiative UNDP
DRC is positioning itself to be a leader in
innovation in the region.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 10AFRICA
GHANA
Visualisation of Governance and
Peace Tracking Poll
APPROACH: Big Data SDG: 16
Governance and peace indicators are the trends, correlations and display
typically subjective, and difficult to define information in a more interactive and useful
and measure, making it difficult for UNDP way to make it easier to act upon the views
and partners to design and implement and concerns of citizens. UNDP partnered
programmes that address the root of with the UN Global Pulse’s Kampala Lab for
development challenges for a meaningful the visualization of GaP.
impact. Thus the Governance and Peace
(GaP) Poll was designed to generate baseline The tool complements existing data
information and provide timely data to track gathering and analysis methods, while
progress on public opinion and related leveraging the development of new
indicators over time. Via a dashboard the Poll technology, partnerships and capacities for
is being used to track, identify and visualize big data analytics.
MALAWI
Malawi Resilience Innovation Lab
APPROACH: Innovation Lab SDGs: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13
Malawi is a largely rural based economy and livelihoods to environmental and
where more than 80 % of the population Climate Change. UNDP partnered with a
relying on subsistence agriculture. Food partners in the Government, private sector,
insecurity has been a recurring issue that and the community,including FAO, UNICEF,
negatively impacts the livelihoods of people LUANAR - technical lead on innovations,
and the economy. MRIL encourages citizens COOPI - a community mobilizer, the
to generate ideas that build community Department of Disaster Management
resilience to disaster risks, economic shocks, (DoDMA), the National Association of Small
disease outbreaks. It provides a platform to and Micro Enterprises Association, Lilongwe
source solutions across a wide spectrum of University of Agriculture, and Natural
thematic areas -- from economic recovery Resources, and Plus One Media to set up this
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 11AFRICA
Innovation Lab. undertake regular monitoring, process
documentation, knowledge generation and
Five proposals for solutions to build lasting sharing on the innovations; the innovations
community resilience against floods were effects on household and community welfare
shortlisted for co-creation and incubation. In and resilience will be assessed; based on the
2016 the ideas will be piloted; the community user feedback and assessment innovations
where the innovation will be introduced will will be scaled and the uptake will be
be sensitized; CARD researchers will discussed with partners.
MAURITIUS
Foresight for Building an Innovative
Civil Service
APPROACH: Foresight SDG: 3, 4, 8
The Government of Mauritius has prioritized UNDP Global Centre for Public Service
building a more responsible and responsive Excellence.
Civil Service. Through the Mauritius
ForesightXchange we an outward-looking, At the Mauritius ForesightXchange 4 creative
future-oriented and value-based process and proposals were prototypes for innovating in
compass for innovation in the Civil Service public service delivery in Mauritius by 2025.
was developed. This initiative was designed Building on this ForesightXchange, UNDP is
and implemented in collaboration with the currently exploring opportunities with
Ministry of Civil Service and Administrative Government of Mauritius to scale this
Reforms and the Ministry of Finance and foresight initiative and the promotion of
Economic Development in Mauritius and the innovation approaches within the Civil
Service.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 12AFRICA
NIGERIA
Special Target Enterprises (STEs) for
Persons with Disabilities
APPROACHES: SDGs: 8, 10
Human-Centered Design,
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
Despite the large numbers of enterprise tailoring, hairdressing and computer
developmentprogrammesin Nigeria, very application/ management, with a periodic
few focus on STEs for physically challenged follow-up monitoring mechanism for each
groups and rural women. Globally, evidence group. It is the first entrepreneurship monitor
shows that persons with disabilities scheme in West Africa to focus on this
experience lower legal protection, higher vulnerable population.
rat e s o f p o v e rt y, l o w e r e d u c at i o n a l
achievements, poorer health outcomes and The results of this entrepreneurial monitor is
less political and cultural participation. useful in determining credit worthiness of the
group as well as provide key input towards
With the Anambra State Government, UNDP the design of a national policy for STE
launched the ‘Special Target Enterprises Support. In 2016, reports of the four quarters
Development and Monitor Initiative’ for monitoring will be aggregated for use in
persons with disabilities. The initiative policy design and access to finance meetings
empowers 30 participants with vocational and linkages.
skills in four trade areas; shoe-making,
RWANDA
YouthConnekt for Employment
APPROACH: Crowdsourcing SDGs: 8, 17
Almost 65% of Rwanda’s population is and access to productive resources. To
younger than 35 years and the majority of address this challenge, in 2013 UNDP co-
young women and men in urban and rural sponsored the launch of the YouthConnekt
areas lack both decent work opportunities platform, a virtual space that facilitates
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 13AFRICA
partnerships between young Rwandans, the organizations (DOT Rwanda, EDUCAT, and
private sector and government for African Innovation Prize), and the private
employment and entrepreneurship sector.
opportunities.
Over the last three years, YouthConnekt’s
In 2015, we continued investing in scaling Bootcamps has driven the creation of about
the initiative and supported a competition for 1,000 permanent and 2,700 temporarily jobs.
women entrepreneurs; another edition of the YouthConnekt has reached more than 10,000
YouthConnekt Bootcamp; and an Award young women and men with skills building
which was a joint effort with the Ministry of services; and a million youth through 46 TV
Youth and ICT, National Youth Council, and radio programmes on career
University of Rwanda, College of Business opportunities and entrepreneurship support.
a n d E c o n o m i c s , s e v e r a l n o n - p r o fi t
ZIMBABWE
Four Innovation Labs Accelerate
Entrepreneurship and Employment
APPROACHES: Innovation Lab, SDGs: 3, 4, 8
Challenge
A crucial challenge facing Zimbabwe is the Through a partnership with the Zimbabwe
high level of poverty and exclusion. With Farmers Union (ZFU), the initiative targeted
unemployment levels for young men and 100 young farmers in four districts and ten
women rising over 70%, entrepreneurship young innovators from the Harare Institute of
development has been identified as a vehicle Technology to catalyze, test and scale-up or
for creating jobs and enhancing access to d e p l o y p ro m i s i n g e n t re p re n e u r s h i p
livelihoods for young people. In development models in a Young Farmers
collaboration with national partners, UNDP Innovation Lab. Initial results show that the
launched an initiative to improve the Lab has transformed and changed the way
livelihoods of young farmers by providing the ZFU serves the farmers. Within one year,
demand-driven entrepreneur skills and and across four accelerator labs the initiative
linking the entrepreneurs to the right has brought together more than 15 partners,
networks. including many private sector companies.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 14AFRICA
Four innovation labs for entrepreneurship Programme-- have been launched and the
acceleration --- Young Farmers Innovation Country Office invested US$ 100,000 towards
Lab, Social Innovation Lab, Business them, complementing support from the
Incubation Pilot Phase 2, and ZW9 We Film Innovation Facility and strengthening the
Creative Entrepreneurship Accelerator innovation ecosystem in the country.
ARAB STATES
EGYPT
Smarter Citizens for Innovation Future
APPROACHES: Innovation Lab, SDGs: 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11
Human-Centered Design,
Gamification
While Egypt has seen a rise in the use of UNDP Egypt’s innovation lab works to empower
innovation in development solutions, it still young men and women to use various
struggle with problems related to socio- innovation tools to build capacity in tackling
economic inclusion and agency which are development challenges. Innovation tools
associated with unemployment, lack of technical include -- design thinking, games, big data,
support, lack of opportunities to international crowdfunding and foresight. The initiative
exposure and difficulties in accessing funding supports collective problem identification and
and credit opportunities.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 15ARAB STATES
co-creation of development solutions both included topics such as games for social
within UNDP Egypt’s programme and with change, reporting on Violence Against
national projects and partners such as UN Women;social justice; startup accelerators;
Volunteers, Egypt ICT Trust Fund, Microsoft, social entrepreneurship; street design
Vodafone, International Development challenge; solutions for persons with
Research Center and Governments of Egypt disabilities and sustainable development. In
and Sweden. each category top ideas and teams were
identified, paired with mentors and industry
The initiative has seen the successful leaders to further to develop and scale their
completion of several innovation camps that projects further.
EGYPT
Foresighting on Youth Employment
APPROACHES: Foresight, SDG: 8
Human- Centered Design
Unemployment of young men and women is regarding the nature of their employment
a pressing development challenges in Egypt. through surveys which will be analyzed and
In 2014, the poverty rate in Egypt reached fed into the foresighting plan for Phase 2.
13.4%. Young Egyptians constitute almost Based on the results of Phase 1, Phase 2
70% of the total unemployed. Although there engages stakeholders to address the issue of
have been efforts to have a better unemployment. Technology Institute (ITI);
understanding of the situation of Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship
unemployment among young men and Center (TIEC); ICT Trust Fund; and the I4D
women, this problem has not been team will co-develop a strategy for future
adequately addressed by traditional activities on the issue of youth
employment initiatives. A two-phase project unemployment in Phase 2 of the project. The
is currently being implemented, aims to workshop will provide participants with an
analyze and address the youth opportunity to imagine and think together
unemployment problem. Phase 1 involves about possible futures of the Egyptian labour
collecting data from young men and women force ecosystem.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 16ARAB STATES
LEBANON
Innovation in Vocational Training
APPROACH: SDG:
Human-Centered Design 8
The vocational training sector in Lebanon c o o rd i n a t i o n w i t h i n t h e s e c t o r a n d
faces major challenges in addressing the incorporation of innovative vocational
needs of both youth seeking jobs and training curriculum and teaching
employers looking for human resource methodologies.
capital. There is a mismatch between the
human capital supply and demand due to Through a series of national and local
the lack of linkages between the vocational workshops in Tripoli and Tyre, this initiative
training sector and private sector. Limited l e v e ra g e s a h u m a n - c e n t e re d d e s i g n
coordination between actors involved in approach to improve the effectiveness of the
vocational training has led to duplication and vocational training system in Lebanon. These
limited overall impact. As a result, the workshops will bring together and build the
training curriculum being used is obsolete capacities of a wide range of stakeholders
and relies on theoretical and traditional within the sector, so that the identified
teaching methodologies. Therefore, Lebanon solutions can be addressed and tested at
w i l l b e n e fi t g r e a t l y f r o m i n c r e a s e d multiple levels within the sector.
MOROCCO
Gamification of Ecosystem Services
within the Argane Biosphere Reserve
APPROACH: Gamification SDGs: 11, 12, 13
Southern Morocco is facing environmental conferences or contracting communication
degradation and severe biodiversity losses firms to produce radio and TV spots to raise
within the Argane Biosphere Reserve. awareness -- these have proved insufficient.
Traditional solutions involved conducting
capacity development workshops and To find alternative ways to change the
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 17ARAB STATES
behaviour of citizens vis-à-vis their building on the case of ecosystem services
surrounding environment, UNDP provided by the Argan forest.
collaborated with the Natural Capital Project
Team from Stanford University to introduce 63 students participated in the gamification
university students to natural capital and lab, representing 7 universities from 6 cities.
design thinking. Games for Social Good were So far this initiatives has delivered 8 game
found to have a strong potential to serve as prototypes and performed 2 play tests.
an effective medium for environmental Participants indicated that gamification was
education. Games were then developed, an enjoyable alternative to traditional
solutions to environmental education.
SUDAN
Innovation Nucleus
APPROACHES: Foresight, SDGs: 5, 8, 16
Human-Centered Design, Big Data,
Gamification
To make better decisions today, the array of strengthen the ideation processes, and
possible futures must be tapped to build ultimately support an inclusive dialogue
robust, flexible strategic plans that can processes. These strategies include, big data,
a n t i c i p a t e f u t u re o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d d e s i g n t h i n k i n g , g a m i fi c a t i o n , a n d
challenges. In 2014, UNDP hosted a federal foresighting.UNDP is partnering with the
level dialogue to help Sudan with national Institute for the Future and Futurescaper.
planning initiatives to achieve both short-
and long-term goals. In 2015, UNDP Sudan One of the outcomes of the Innovation
further developed its innovation efforts by Nucleus is Raik Shino -- an online dialogue
establishing the Innovation Nucleus to platform geared to stimulate discussion
coordinate and spearhead innovation across about the future of the Sudan through a
UNDP Sudan. gamified process. There are now more than
800 registered users on Raik Shino, actively
Several strategies are being leveraged to commenting and voting on the challenges.
reveal crucial development trends,
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 18ARAB STATES
TUNISIA
UnConferencing to Foster Youth
Engagement on the SDGs
APPROACHES: Innovation Lab SDGs: 5, 8, 16
Human-Centered Design
40% of Tunisians are under the age of 25. Camp Tunisia and other youth movements
However, engagement of young Tunisian such as IIDebate and university clubs (ICMUN
women and men in the public sphere and INGENIM). The initiative also leveraged
remains low. Over 25% of 18-29 years olds the support of UNICEF and UN Women in
have never taken part in the activities of a discussing Goals 4 and 5 respectively.
civil society organization or political party.
Over 280 students and young civil society
This initiative developed a modality of activists participated in the 9 unConferences,
unConference aimed at action-oriented held in 7 different regions (Bizerte, Mahdia,
discussions on the SDGs to engage the youth Manouba, Médenine, Monastir, Siliana and
using the design thinking methodology. To Tunis) to draw more diverse and overlooked
host these events, UNDP tag-teamed with the perspectives.
Social Media Club, BiL, GirlUp Tunisia, Ed
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 19ASIA & THE PACIFIC
BANGLADESH
15 Million People Stuck in Traffic
APPROACHES: SDGs: 8, 11, 13
Behavioural Insights,
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
With 15.5 million daily commuters, Dhaka buses that help commuters better predict the
has a congested environment, often ebbs and flows of public transport.
culminating in traffic jams and accidents that Commuters are able to access real time
claim about 4,000 lives annually. It is traffic data via a mobile app. As more
estimated that between US$ 3 to 12 billion in commuters opt for public transport, the
GDP is lost due to traffic-related issues such reduction in overall vehicular traffic will lead
as accidents, excess pollution and loss of to reductions in environmental pollution and
time. Bangladesh requires urgent action on vehicular accidents.
augmenting and revamping its current
transportation infrastructure. A beta version of the app launched in
December 2015 for a single bus route was
Behavioural insights revealed that unreliable u s e d m o re t h a n 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 t i m e s a n d
bus schedule information was the key downloaded 500,000 times in under three
deterrent to using public transport. UNDP months. Currently, the app has 6,000 active
partnered with the Bangladesh Road and users monthly that plan their journey
Transport Corporation (BRTC) and a local times .along the single bus route.
start up Go-BD to prototype GPS-tracked
BANGLADESH
ICT Opportunities for Slums
APPROACHES: Challenge, Sensing, SDGs: 1, 4, 5, 8, 10
Big Data
A digital gap is prominent within urban areas is difficult for young men and women living
of Bangladesh. Accessing skill development in the slums since they have lower education
and subsequently employment opportunities levels and limited or no access to IT services.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 20ASIA & THE PACIFIC
UNDP worked with CodersTrust (a Danish training, the students received assistance
company in Bangladesh), Korail Community with job search in freelance marketplaces
Development Committee (CDC), and the such as Elance and oDesk.
JAAGO Foundation to train 40 students in
the Korail slum, the largest slum in Dhaka The initiative successfully met and surpassed
city, with over 170,000 dwellers. The students targets for average typing speed, computer
were taught basic English and computer application use for the students. View their
skills over a six-month period to enable them personal stories here.
to easily accomplish data entry jobs. After the
BANGLADESH
Leaving No One Behind
APPROACH: Micronarratives SDGs: 1, 5, 8
Although the Government of Bangladesh greater understanding of the multiple
officially recognized hijras (transgenders) as a dimensions of gender identity stigma and
third gender in 2013, the community multifaceted aspects of poverty that hinder
continues to be marginalized and vulnerable the hijras’ human development potential.
within society as they experience intense Placing hijra at the center of the process both
discrimination and human rights abuses due empowers the community to become agents
t o p e r v a s i v e s t i g m a a n d p re j u d i c e . of change and also gives them ownership
D e v e l o p m e n t p ro j e c t s f o r t h e h i j r a over a solution model to sustainably get out
community have been framed mostly around of poverty. UNDP worked with the Bandhu
HIV prevention/treatment and health. Social Welfare Society to identify and contact
Although access to health care is imperative, hijras for the micronarratives.
stigma and discrimination affect multiple
dimensions of their lives. From the 40+ micronarratives collected so far,
a consistent theme emerges: ‘recognition’ of
To promote the inclusive development the third gender by the state has limited
agenda, “Leave No One Behind” was impact without direct interventions that
initiated to collect micronarratives from the account for gender identity discrimination
hijra community in four districts of and stigma and an intersectional analysis of
Bangladesh (Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and how this exclusion impacts many aspects of
Chittagong) in an attempt to uncover the life for hijra.
complex development challenges facing the
third gender. The pilot project develops a
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 21ASIA & THE PACIFIC
BHUTAN
Gamification for Youth Employment
APPROACH: Gamification SDG: 8
In Bhutan it was found that a high level of In 2015, we prioritized improving the
education is not sufficient to secure gainful participation rate by lowering the barrier to
employment -- demonstrated by the high access the game, through the creation of a
numbers of unemployed youth with Bachelor tabletop analog game. The game will enable
degrees. In 2014, UNDP developed a virtual small group discussions within safe, non-
platform to support the Bhutanese judgmental environments; promoting
Government in its goal of reducing youth problem-solving through role-play, with the
unemployment to 2.5% by 2018. We ultimate goal of challenging social norms
partnered with Emerson College in Boston, that restrict the decisions young people
the Institute for Management Studies (IMU) in make about career and family.
Thimphu, and the Ministry of Labour and
Human Resources to implement a The analog game allows the initiative to
gamification project called ‘Youth@Work better reach young women and men living in
B h u t a n ’. H o w e v e r, l e s s t h a n 2 , 0 0 0 remote rural areas -- a significant percentage
participated in conversations and shared of the population in Bhutan.
ideas on the online game.
BHUTAN
Virtual Zomdu - Bringing
Parliament to the People
APPROACH: SDG:
Human-Centered Design 16
Due to limited road and infrastructure access, of 2014 to test the feasibility of using existing
a large portion of the 70% of Bhutanese infrastructure and videoconferencing
living in rural areas are disconnected from facilities to connect Parliamentarians with
decision-making at the Parliament. The their constituencies.
Virtual Zomdu was prototyped in the summer
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 22ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Based on its success, the programme was accounts for huge transportation costs for
scaled up in 2015, and officially launched at parliamentarians and the public.
the National Assembly and the National
Council of Bhutan in August 2015. It provides Videoconferencing facilities have been
real-time face-to-face interactions and installed in 47 Community Centres around
discussions for MPs and their constituents on the country. Community consultations have
new bills, national issues and community been conducted in Samtse, Trashiyangtse,
concerns. The initiative is well suited for Bumthang and Dagana.
Bhutan considering rugged terrains which
CHINA
Safe E-Waste Disposal
APPROACHES: Crowdsourcing, SDG: 13
Human-Centered Design,
Mobile Feedback Mechanism,
Big Data, Innovation Lab
In 2014, China discarded 6,032kilotonnesof beyond the original pilot cities of Beijing and
electrical goods. Shrinking product lifespans Tianjin to 22 cities. Version 2.0 was
and growing use of electronic goods has developed through iterative design and
encouraged the rapid growth in the volume rapid prototyping, and is currently being
of e-waste. Unregulated disposal of e-waste rolled out in phases. This initiative has gained
is asignificantsource of organic pollutants global recognition. It has been selected -- as
and GHG emissions, posing direct threats to a semi-finalist in the MIT Climate Co-Lab
human and environmental health. Contests, by the UAE Government to be
featured in their 4th World Future of
In 2014, UNDP partnered with Baidu and the Government Summit; and as one of the
Ministry of Environmental Protection to winners from over 800 entries at the 2015
launch Baidu Recycle, an app that facilitates Solutions Summit.
e-waste recycling. Within a year, the app
arranged for the safe recycling of over Baidu Recycle 2.0 is available in 22 cities, and
11,429 items, including TVs, computers, and enables the safe disposal of an average of
fridges. The service has since been scaled up 5,900 electronic items per month. The app
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 23ASIA & THE PACIFIC
continues to gain popularity with over Resource Recycling Association to build an
250,000 user visits per month. Recently, the internet-based nationwide e-waste
team also launched the Baidu Recycle Green management ecosystem. Currently, the team
Service Alliance comprising Intel, ROBAM is working on a built-in online payment
Appliances, Midea, Joyoung, Changhong, system, B2B e-waste services, and other
Haier, Lenovo, TCL-Aobo, and the China improvements.
CHINA
Too Cold
APPROACHES: Crowdsourcing, SDG: 13
Human-Centered Design,
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
The world is using too much energy to make temperatures in public spaces.
public spaces #toocold. During the summer Crowdsourced photos then display on a
in Beijing, a 2°C difference can save an corresponding website to visually map which
estimated 400-600 million kilowatts of power, cities are #TooCold, encouraging public
160-250 thousand tonnes of coal and reduce spaces that are #toocold (e.g., hotels,
carbon dioxide emissions by 350,000 tonnes. airports, restaurants) to raise temperatures.
The #TooCold campaign will urge people Currently the draft demo of the mobile
and institutions to set the temperature of application has been completed and we are
their air conditioners to the recommended in the phase of collecting test feedback from
25/26°C. Using a smartphone app and an focus groups to prepare for the official launch
external thermometer, citizens upload time online.
and location-stamped pictures that note
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 24ASIA & THE PACIFIC
CHINA
Weaving into Happiness: E-Commerce Bridging
the Digital Gap in Ethnic Minority Communities
APPROACH: SDG:
Human-Centered Design 13
Despite improving conditions over the past goods. An e-commerce platform can go a
25 years over 80 million Chinese people live long way in equalizing this gap and
below the national poverty line (under RMB improving the livelihood for these women
2,30 per year). Of these, nearly a third are and communities. The project works to
ethnic minority women -- despite making up enhance the existing UNDP China project
only 9% of China’s total population. Many “Promoting Women’s Empowerment and
among these ethnic minorities see weaving Development in Ethnic Minority Regions” by
as an important cultural skill that symbolizes connecting the ethnic minority artisan
a woman’s ability to provide for the family. women directly with the designers/brands
However, industrial mass production has and customers through a UNDP e-commerce
caused these women to lose livelihood platform cutting out the middleman, and
opportunities. It has also adversely affected hence increasing their income. The key
the community’s way of life. Local shop implementing, technical support, skills-
owners are forced to sell the precious building and promotions partner will be
scarves and clothing at cut-rate prices in Alibaba, which is the largest e-commerce
order to be competitive with mass-produced platform in China.
INDONESIA
DIY Mobile Application for Multipurpose
Survey (DIY-SAM)
APPROACHES: SDG:
Human-Centered Design, 13
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
Baseline surveys and impact assessments are development interventions and to advise on
c r i t i c a l t o m ea s u re e ff e c t i v e n e s s o f
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 25ASIA & THE PACIFIC
the design of development support Flow. The Foundation conducted skills-
provided. However, many Programme and building programmes for UNDP staff and
Project Management Units (PMUs) have long enumerators to use the Akvo Flow online
struggled with planning, designing, and dashboard, app in mobile devices, and
implementing these assessments due to cost existing web-based apps to analyze the data
and capacity limitations. set from the online dashboard.
UNDP Indonesia introduced a tool (DIY- The tool has been successfully trialed in
SAM) that eases the process of collecting Malang, East Java Province, with 200
information during surveys/assessments households interviewed and over 1,000
through a mobile app. Staff can easily build questions asked per survey. This affordable,
their own questionnaires on an Android reliable, and highly scalable survey tool
Mobile interface. This was prototyped in dramatically improves the accuracy and ease
partnership with the Akvo Foundation and of data collection, analysis, and sharing using
the National Development Planning Agency a smartphone or tablet.
(Bappenas) using an existing tool called Akvo
MALDIVES
Make My Island
APPROACHES: Crowdsourcing, SDGs: 9, 11, 13, 15
Human-Centered Design,
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
The Maldives is an island archipelago with a platform to improve communications
population of approximately 350,000 people between local authorities and the
scattered across some 200 islands. Due to c o m m u n i t y, b y a l l o w i n g c o m m u n i t y
the dispersion, there are communication members to report their issues - via the
gaps and limited pathways for communities mobile app, text messages, or the website.
to engage with local authorities on issues
concerning them. The authorities have long UNDP continues to work with the local
struggled to keep the streets of Malé free of council of Laamu Fonadhoo, Laamu Atoll
litter and garbage bags. Council, Women’s Development Committee
of Laamu Atoll, ocal community members,
In 2014, UNDP supported the creation of a
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 26ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Maldives Police Services, Environment Malé and greater Malé region, more than 64
Protection Agency, Waste Management and issues were reported and addressed during
Pollution Control Department, the UNDP the first weeks. Building on the success of the
LECReD programme coordination unit and MakeMyIsland app (prototyped on the island
UK’s Fix My Street (mysociety.org). of Fonadhoo in Laamu atoll), the initiative was
expanded to Gan, Kadhdhoo and Maandhoo
Since the platform was introduced as a and is scheduled to be re-launched in 2016.
mobile application in December 2015 to
MYANMAR
iWomen - Inspiring Women App
APPROACHES: Crowdsourcing, SDGs: 5, 10
Human-Centered Design,
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
Women are severely underrepresented at all initiative of UNDP Myanmar and May Doe
levels of public and political life in Myanmar. Kabar National Network of Rural Women
Emerging women leadersin rural areas in which has a membership of 22,000 women.
particularface significantbarriers to overcome Myanmar ‘Geek Girls’, Gender Equality
restrictive social norms, and lack personal Network, Akhaya Women, and Great Women
confidence as well as female role models in Speak Out -UK Charity are all invaluable
Myanmar’s opening democratic space. partners of the initiative.
iWomen is a free mobile application The iWomen app has 827 active users. The
developed by Myanmar women in tech with current user base has primarily been spread
co-designers from the target women’s on a phone-to-phone basis among members
community groups. It works to inspire of May Doe Kabar Network because it still
women, foster self-confidence and channel being tested. The first public version was
mentorship into the daily lives of rural launched on 8 March 2016 for wider use via
Myanmar women. The iWomen app is a joint the Google Play Store.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 27ASIA & THE PACIFIC
NEPAL
Games for Gender Equality
APPROACH: Gamification SDGs: 15, 10
In Nepal, gender based violence (GBV) is that targeted 8-12 year olds in the
one of the most prevalent forms of Kathmandu valley.
violence.Over the past five years, the Nepali
Police estimates that the number of violent In 2015, the initiative was scaled to reach
incidents against women has risen many fold. more beneficiaries. The second component,
These incidents and glass ceilings are often a “find your way out” board game, was
tolerated within within the prevalent developed to ensure that the game reaches
patriarchal norms. During 2014 UNDP children and adolescents with limited digital
worked with the Noah’s Ark animation access
company and the University of Chicago
Gaming Lab to develop a Facebook app to Over 85% of participants said they would
deconstruct gender roles. A series of short change their behaviour based on the
animated videos depicting varying forms of understanding of the traditional roles of men
gender-based violence, albeit in reversed and women. The flipped videos have been
gender roles, complemented an online game adapted in the #HowAbnormal campaign to
fight gender stereotypes in Viet Nam.
NEPAL
Idea Factory
APPROACHES: Behavioural Insights SDG: 8, 10
Human-Centered Design, Big Data,
Mobile Feedback Mechanisms,
Innovation Lab, Crowdsourcing
Remote and poor regions of Nepal lag young men and women. This project
behind the rest of the country in several addresses problems of unemployment and
development achievements, and in provision connectivity in Parbat, one of the remote
of adequate employment opportunities for districts of Nepal.
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 28ASIA & THE PACIFIC
UNDP Nepal, in partnership with Microsoft The District Micro Entrepreneurs Group
Innovation Center, developed a software- Association (DMEGA) Parbat and local
based, knowledge and innovation hub or entrepreneurs also provided support to this
“idea factory” to facilitate local enterprise initiative.
development by connecting local
entrepreneurs with potential buyers and 100 innovative ideas have been generated in
i n v e s t o r s t h r o u g h t e c h n o l o g y. T h i s the Idea Store, and are open for partnership
application has two features: an online and investment. Over 5,000 people have
“superstore” with a database of visited the Idea Factory websites and about
“#MADEinNepal” products for sale from a 30 entrepreneurs were able to sell their
variety of local micro-entrepreneurs and an products and make transactions through the
online “idea store” to help potential app. Several Ministries have indicated interest
entrepreneurs in starting up an enterprise. in adopting this initiative.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Phones Against Corruption
APPROACHES: Crowdsourcing, SDGs: 5, 10
Human-Centered Design,
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
Papua New Guinea (PNG) ranks 145 out of of more than US$ 2 million. Five additional
175 countries in Transparency International’s public officials await court decisions.
Corruption Perception Index. An estimated
40% of PNG’s annual budget (approx. US$ Based on the success of the prototype, the
6.5 billion) is lost to corruption and Phones Against Corruption service was rolled
mismanagement. In 2014, UNDP partnered out to six new Departments and 25,000
with telecom providers, MobiMedia and government officials countrywide in 2015. By
Digicel, the Australia’s Economic and Public the end of December 2015, almost 22,000
Sector Programme (EPSP), and DPMNEC to text messages were received from 6,157
develop an SMS-based reporting system that different users.
allows civil servants to anonymously monitor
corruption. Over 6,000 text reports were The SMS reporting system is being scaled-up
received from 1,550 different users, which in PNG to incorporate all 83,749 civil
lead to the investigation of 251 alleged s e r v a n t s ; a n d ex p a n d e d t o Fi j i a n d
cases of corruption, and the arrests of two Bangladesh in 2016.
public officials for for fund mismanagement
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 29ASIA & THE PACIFIC
SAMOA
Question of the Week
APPROACHES: Crowdsourcing, SDGs: 10, 16
Mobile Feedback Mechanism
Almost a third of the Samoan population live participate in a national discussion around
below the basic poverty line and have limited current socio-political issues. In this way,
access to news, education and information. political feedback bypasses discrimination
Many vulnerable groups (e.g., women, inherent in the traditional political process.
children, untitled men and Fa’afafine or third- The initiative gives a free, anonymous voice
gender people) tend to be excluded from for every member of every social scale, age
traditional participatory platforms in the and gender. UNDP is collaborating with
democratic system. Through a weekly mobile operators Digicel and Bluesky for this
encrypted mobile poll reaching 135,000 initiative.
Samoans, citizens have the opportunity to
VIET NAM
Deconstructing Gender Stereotypes
APPROACHES: Behavioural Insights SDG: 5
Human Centered Design
Existing stereotypes in Viet Nam confine video campaign aimed at challenging
women and men to specific careers and gender stereotypes. The #HowAbnormal
positions. Women in v face numerous campaign use a series of comics and videos
challenges, including discriminatory hiring featuring scenarios where gender roles are
and promotion practices, lack of support flipped, together with engaging youth via
f ro m s e n i o r l e a d e r s , a n d a l a c k o f offline and online activities to raise
understanding and support of the awareness of negative gender stereotypes in
demanding roles women have within the Viet Nam. To expand the campaign’s reach,
home and community. In collaboration with UNDP Viet Nam worked with VTV6 (Viet
local social media and communication Nam’s Television Channel for youth), the
organizations, UN Women, UNFPA, UNESCO Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam and the
and ILO, UNDP Viet Nam launched an online
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 30ASIA & THE PACIFIC
Student Magazine of the Youth Union to hold 1,000 likes, shares and comments. Over
17 festivals across Viet Nam. 35,000 students from over 10 universities are
expected to engage in these gender equality
Within the first two months, the videos were festivals in 2016, to discuss and show support
viewed over 30,000 times and received a for positive gender roles.
SRI LANKA
Sensing Landslides
APPROACH: Sensing SDGs: 3, 13, 15
Recently, a number of landslides and earth land movements. The project is coordinated
slips in Sri Lanka resulted in many deaths and and supported through the Sri Lanka
widespread displacement in tea plantations Comprehensive Disaster Management
and remote villages. As the effects of climate Programme (SLCDMP) run by the Ministry of
change start growl, reliable early warning Disaster Management and its partners.
systems for landslide are necessary to
safeguard people’s lives and investments. Testing has yielded promising results on
This initiative uses a sensor that involves low detecting soil liquefaction using low
frequency acoustic waves to develop a frequency acoustic waves.
reliable early warning system by detecting
TIMOR LESTE
SMS Alerts for Securing Life
APPROACH: Crowdsourcing, SDGs: 3, 13, 15
Mobile Feedback Mechanism,
Big Data, Human- Centered Design
Timor Leste is prone to unpredictable and e ff e c t i v e ea r l y - w a r n i n g s y s t e m o r a
extreme weather events and associated mechanism to obtain real time data from
natural disasters and climate-induced risks, locations where climate-induced and natural
which are projected to increase in frequency disasters occur.
and severity. Timor Leste did not have an
UNDP Innovation Facility | 2015 Portfolio by Region | 31ASIA & THE PACIFIC
UNDP is prototyping an early-warning system Timor Telecom and the Ministry of Social
using Frontline SMS which help the Solidarity.
community and the National Disaster
Operation Center to get and/or receive real Within two months of the project’s launch in a
time data related to disasters. This leads to three villages, 88 messages were sent by the
enhanced ability of the government to NDOC, and 73 messages were received from
better plan and response to disaster events. local focal points on disaster related events,
UNDP collaborated with the mobile operator, including landslides and, water scarcity.
EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA
CROATIA
Crowdfunding Academy:
Innovation in Development Finance
APPROACH: Crowdsourcing SDGs: 1, 4, 7, 8, 10 12, 13, 17
Achieving the SDGs by 2030 requires alternative finance models and mobilize
tapping into alternative financial resources. support from communities, the private sector
There is an increasing need for testing
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