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UN Global Pulse Accelerator Programme announced three grantees for its third cohort, and received a record 185 eligible applications from 45 UN entities with work covering 194 countries for its fourth cohort. The Accelerator supports the scaling of promising, innovative solutions, ensuring that exceptional UN-led pilots maximise their impact for people and the planet.
#ITCILO
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WHO’s flagship innovation challenge, LEAD, is advancing its 2025 AI for All cycle. The challenge received 76 ideas from 46 countries, including ideas for AI-powered social listening platforms for immunisation programmes and AI companions for frontline health workers. Following a global selection process, eight teams have advanced to the final phase and are receiving expert technical advice to scale their solutions.
#WHO
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Hack4Env, UNEP’s first hackathon, engaged over 1,000 registrants with 157 youths invited to participate. Supported by 6 masterclasses and 40 mentors, the finalist presented innovative solutions to environmental challenges in areas such as climate action, circular economy and ecosystem restoration.
#UNEP
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At the 2025 UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York, 15 companies from the SDG Innovation Accelerator for Young Professionals took the stage presenting solutions spanning climate action, digital transformation and sustainable supply chains. Building on this momentum, the Accelerator has launched its seventh and largest edition yet, engaging young professionals from over 400 companies across different countries. A key evolution in 2026 is a deepened partnership with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). A key evolution in 2026 is a deepened partnership with Global Compact's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) network.
#UN GLOBAL COMPACT
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UN OICT engages academic partners such as the George Washington, Fordham and Carnegie Mellon University, alongside civil-society partners and foundations like George Hacks, Microsoft Philanthropies, and Google Summer of Code, on initiatives such as Reboot the Earth Qatar (video), George Hacks, AIx Fordham x Microsoft and Google Summer of Code.
#UN OICT
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UN OICT, UN DPO and UN DMSPC ran the Reboot UN-Tapped innovation campaign. After a week-long design and coding sprint, the challenge produced digital prototypes for two UN Missions (UNMISS and UNFICYP) and the UN Mine Action Service, which - for example - automated and enhanced the management of grant‑related data.
#UN OICT
#UN DPO
#UN DMSPC
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UN Tourism’s Urban Heat Mitigation Challenge in Malta connects startups with public and private stakeholders to develop innovative solutions addressing rising temperatures in tourism destinations. Its goal is to advance climate-resilient, sustainable and scalable approaches that enhance visitor experience while protecting local communities and infrastructure.
#UN TOURISM
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UNU Macau’s AI for SDGs – Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition 2025 engaged youth-led AI solutions on climate and digital equity.
#UNU
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UNIDO selected 30 innovators for the second cohort of its Sustainable Energy Incubator for Madagascar. The cohort brings together startups and small and medium enterprises working across clean cooking, hydropower, biogas, solar photovoltaic energy and energy efficiency.
#UNIDO
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UN Tourism’s Morocco National Startup Competition sourced innovative business models in the digitalisation of tourism services, gaming-leisure and gastronomy. The final will be held in Marrakech in April 2026.
#UN TOURISM
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FAO accelerated youth-led innovation through Reboot the Earth, the Global AgriInno Challenge and the Data Farm Value Challenge.
#FAO
Past
Video: Since its launch, #RebootTheEarth, an initiative that empowers youth to leverage technology to address climate change challenges, has taken place in India, Ethiopia, Morocco, New York and other locations worldwide.
Upcoming
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UNICEF Climate Ventures launched its first call for applications inviting applications from innovators in emerging economies building AI and blockchain solutions for climate resilience at the intersection of children's health. Selected initiatives will receive up to USD 100,000 in equity-free funding from the UNICEF venture fund and a year of mentorship.
#UNICEF
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WFP accepts ongoing applications to Hiper, the Humanitarian Innovation Programme in Emergency Response focusing on the first 60 days of emergency response.
#WFP
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Despite significant progress in weather science, there are still many challenges that require further research, ranging from bridging scientific-community gaps to ensuring reliability of emerging technologies such as AI. A timely Call for Papers on Weather and Climate-Induced Multi-Hazard Futures by World Weather Research Programme invites researchers to address these challenges by focusing on forecast innovation, multi-hazard preparedness and societal resilience.
#WMO
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Nominations are now open for the first-ever UN 2.0 Awards, which will recognise UN system teams and initiatives using new capabilities and approaches to drive stronger delivery and impact. Open to UN system-led and collaborative initiatives across headquarters, regional and country levels, the Awards will spotlight work that improves how the UN designs, delivers, manages and scales its work. Winners will be recognised during UN 2.0 Week, and nominations close on 26 April 2026.
#UN EOSG
Image: In Guatemala, more than 40% of the population faces climate threats. DroneBots developed by UNICEF Guatemala, will transform the response to emergencies by reducing data transfer time, allowing faster and more effective decisions to protect children and communities during an emergency situation. | UNICEF Climate Ventures
Highlights across the UN
The UN is catalysing innovation through global challenges, funding calls and accelerator programmes that support startups, researchers and youth. These initiatives advance solutions across climate, health and humanitarian response, while fostering cross-sector collaboration, scaling promising pilotsth and strengthening innovation ecosystems to deliver sustainable, real-world impact.
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