UNICEF Innovation

Globally, 240 million children with disabilities experience barriers to education.🏫 Through the Accessible Digital Textbooks initiative, UNICEF supports children with disabilities in 11 countries 🌏, by improving access to information in alternative accessible formats and partnering with ministries of education and organizations of persons with disabilities to ensure sustainable impact. Through the initiative: 🔵 children have access to over a hundred accessible digital textbooks editions and stories titles.  🔵 3,000 teachers have been trained to promote inclusive education and help all children to learn and thrive together. Find out more 👉 https://uni.cf/3B2mJqG   #IDPD #InclusiveEducation #AccessibleDigitalTextbooks #EducationForAll #InternationalDisabilityDay

Up to US $100K Grant Funding Opportunity for Digital Public Goods with the UNICEF Venture Fund 🚀       Join AfriLabs and UNICEF for a webinar designed to help African startups scale their impact through open, safe, and inclusive innovation.      Learn about the equity-free funding from UNICEF Venture Fund available to entrepreneurs developing groundbreaking solutions with AI and Blockchain for Data and Trust.     🗓️ Save the date: 12th December    🕑 2pm WAT | 3pm CAT | 4pm EAT     Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/DPG-FUNDING   

We're delighted to share the shortlist for the 2024 ABC International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing 🏆. The award recognizes publishers and initiatives that lead the way in making reading materials accessible to all. This year's finalists are: Publishers: · Book Publishers Association of Alberta (Canada) · Children's Fun Publishing (China) · Gerbera Ediciones (Argentina) Initiatives: · Lithuanian Audiosensory Library · Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities (Australia/New Zealand) · UNICEF Accessible Digital Textbooks Initiative (Finland) The winners will be announced on December 4, 2024, during a ceremony at the International Publishers Association Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. More: https://lnkd.in/ebWMv3jb #WIPO #Accessibility #AccessibleBooks #Copyright #Publishing #PublishingIndustry

✨ 4 Start-ups announced as UNICEF Venture Fund Health Systems Strengthening Cohort. ✨ Over 500 submissions were received from 71 countries among them 66% were from women-founded or led start-ups.  Congratulations to:   🔵 Fetosense® by CareNX in India, which used off-the-shelf devices and AI to develop the Fetosense App, a fetal heart monitoring system that helps mitigate the shortage of gynecologists in rural areas.  🔵 BitzITC in Kenya, developing an AI-powered open-source call management system for call centers in East and Southern Africa, supporting survivors of gender-based violence and violence against children. 🔵 Moner Bondhu in Bangladesh, offering accessible and affordable well-being services for children and young adults via an AI-powered chatbot. 🔵 Docokids in Colombia, developing an AI-driven, pediatrician-backed chatbot that provides parents in remote areas with 24/7 information and consultation.  Find out more about each one 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/gmQ8psfm   The Venture Fund’s partnership with Takeda made it possible to support startups in emerging economies using tech solutions to strengthen health systems. Doing so helps bridge equity gaps and improve access to essential health services that help children survive and thrive.

In the aftermath of #COP29, focused on climate finance, the report ‘Financing the Future: Unlocking Climate Finance for Young Innovators’, highlights 4 keyways to unlock funding for young climate innovators:     🔵 Develop targeted finance programs that reduce risks for early-stage investments and unlock flexible funding.     🔵 Strengthen capacity through incubators and accelerators to provide mentorship, resources, and businesses development.      🔵 Create a centralized climate finance platform to map global finance opportunities for young innovators.     🔵 Elevate the profile of young innovators through public advocacy. Governments, multilateral organizations and the private sector must  establish dedicated funding streams.     Read the report 👉🏾 https://uni.cf/4fVYppi  

REMINDER: UNICEF Venture Fund Call Applications | Up to USD $100k grant funding Focus Areas: - Digital trust - Misinformation and disinformation - Data generation, collection and analysis Who Should Apply? - Start-ups in emerging economies using open-source frontier technology. - Women-led or founded companies and youth-led companies are highly encouraged to apply. Deadline: 23 December How to apply 👉🏾 uni.cf/DataAndTrust Read full application criteria by clicking above.

Congratulations to the social impact entrepreneurs graduating from UNICEF Ghana’s Startup Lab 🎓 Supported by UNICEF Ventures with mentorship and training, these young innovators are building open source, scalable solutions for an equitable digital figure 🚀 "By championing open-source innovation and Digital Public Goods, we're creating an environment where transformative solutions can thrive, especially those that benefit the most vulnerable children. Together, we can build a future where no child is left behind." Fiachra McAsey These startup leaders are tackling key challenges for children in Ghana, learn how 👇🏾 UNICEF StartUp Lab Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation Digital Public Goods Alliance KOICA  

In the report ‘Catalysing a New Global Industry of Climate Innovators’ Alyssa Gilbert of Undaunted: Tackling climate change with innovation and Eleonora G., highlight:     🔵 Why young innovators are key to addressing climate change.    🔵 The role climate accelerators play, in supporting young climate innovators in their entrepreneurial journey.   🔵 The 2030 vision of #Innovation30, and how partners can join in.    To find out more, read the report here 👉🏾 https://uni.cf/491M68B 

📣 UNICEF Launches EdTech for Good Initiative at Slush 2024      In a major step forward, the UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub, part of UNICEF Innovation, proudly unveiled the beta versions of 2 transformative educational resources this week at Slush 2024. The "EdTech for Good Framework" and "The Learning Cabinet" were introduced at a SLUSH side-event in Helsinki as part of UNICEF’s and its partners EdTech for Good initiative.       ✨ Key Introductions:   The EdTech for Good Framework: Ensures EdTech solutions are safe, inclusive, and impactful.   The Learning Cabinet: A discovery platform that showcases curated EdTech solutions using the EdTech for Good Framework.      🎤 Key Event Highlights Included:   A deep dive by Frank van Cappelle into the transformative potential of these assets.   Insightful discussions on safety, inclusivity, and impact in EdTech, led by experts.   Engaging dialogue on how these assets can be leveraged for EdTech innovators, investors and the broader education community.      📊 The Framework’s Five Pillars:   Safety First: Does the solution protect children’s data and provide a secure, transparent space for learning?   Impact on Learning: Does it have evidence that the tool improves learning outcomes?   Designed for Children: Is it intuitive and have strong pedagogical foundations?   Ready to Reach All: Is it built to bridge the digital divide?   Leave No One Behind: Is it based on principles of equity and inclusivity?      A huge shoutout to our panelists for a robust conversation on advancing EdTech 👏     Gian Marco Iodice from Arm, Jeffrey Jian Xu from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Ulla Hemminki-Reijonen from the University of Helsinki, Carlos Ferrari and Leotes Lugo Helin from the UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub, and Maria Palmu from Education Finland, Finnish National Agency for Education.      We also thank our partners who made the development of the EdTech for Good Framework and the Learning Cabinet possible, in particular the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Arm and ADB, and all the experts who contributed to developing the Framework.      🔗 Visit our Learning Cabinet website to explore the beta versions and add your insights to refine these essential assets further 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/dhxhEjEt      #EdTechForGood #LearningCabinet #Slush2024 #EducationForAll

Only 2% of global venture capital funding went to female founded startups in 2023.     At the UNICEF Venture Fund over 40% of its growth stage companies are women-founded or led, and they generate 62% of the entire cohort’s revenue and account for 92% of children reached 🧒🏽   Together with Tech Nordic Advocates and Google, UNICEF Venture Fund hosted an inspiring event in Helsinki, Finland on the sidelines of Slush. We convened female entrepreneurs from the Global North and South to share successes, and experiences of running startups across the world. 🌏     "Running a startup in Bangladesh isn’t easy due to the lack of access to financing, but we remain optimistic about our solutions and are always finding ways to move forward." Tawhida Shiropa, Founder & CEO of Moner Bondhu.    With support from strategic partners like the Government of Finland, the Fund continues to support and recognize female entrepreneurship and identify and test technologies that enable gender equality across the world.  Learn more about the Fund here 👉🏾 https://uni.cf/42swV5f