Digital UNICEF
Harnessing the power of technology and digital innovation for children
Highlights
There has been increasing recognition of the critical role of digital innovation and technology for development (T4D) to UNICEF programming and accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals. With the global emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, digital development has become a core component of UNICEF’s work as national programmes shifted to distance and remote delivery means. Over the past year, UNICEF intensified its collaborations with partners to rapidly develop and expand data and programme-centred technologies to meet evolving circumstances and needs during an unprecedented year.
Today, UNICEF Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) permeate every aspect UNICEF’s work, helping to deliver results for children faster and at scale through technology and digital innovation. UNICEF helped adapt programmes using digital approaches and solutions across all sectors to ensure a continuity of service delivery to reach children in need despite the global shutdown, while strengthening national systems and capacities.
The initiatives described in this report span UNICEF’s work worldwide and help address children’s health, nutrition, education, protection, access to water, sanitation and hygiene, and inclusion. The achievements reflect that ICTs have become instrumental to how we do business at UNICEF; that our partners are propelling this work in all sectoral areas and across humanitarian and development programmes; and that digital innovations and solutions are fundamental to improving children’s lives across the world.
