Project profile — Support to the United Nations Secretary General Innovation Lab

• Africa, regional (30.00%)
• America, regional (30.00%)
• Asia, regional (30.00%)
• Europe, regional (10.00%)

• Other Multisector: Research/scientific institutions (43082) (100.00%)

• Gender equality (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)
• Youth Issues (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Children's issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Nutrition (not targeted)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)

This project aims to support the Executive Office of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to establish an Innovation Lab in order to develop stronger internal innovation and policy capacity that will leverage disruptive technologies and innovation practices. This project develops more powerful platforms and uses the UN’s convening power to serve as an effective global catalyst for responsible innovation. Project activities include: (1) developing and mainstreaming data analytics applications to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and inform the pandemic response; (2) developing skills sets and tools to enable more effective data and evidence-driven approaches; (3) facilitating the flow of knowledge and ideas, including the adoption of innovation best practices and standards to coordinate approaches across the UN innovation ecosystem; and (4) adopting and using predictive analytics and analytical frameworks for violence prevention under the Prediction for Prevention Programme.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased operational impact of the UN system’s work to respond to COVID-19 pandemic, with the objective of saving lives and livelihoods, accelerating adoption of innovations, and maximizing learning from the current pandemic and global response; (2) strengthened internal innovation and policy capacity for greater effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in its programs and operations which reach the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations; and (3) strengthened platforms for global policy and responsible innovation that leaves no-one behind to achieve Agenda 2030.

Results achieved as of December 2022 include: (1) developed and deployed a AI-driven event detection tool accessible across the UN, in over 100 countries; (2) monitored social media and over 100 radio stations to address misinformation on COVID-19; and (3) collaborated on the Recommendations on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for the UN.

• Annual Report 2021
• Proactive disclosure