(Social) InnovationVOJTECH HLEDIK, UNV

Definition Social innovations are new strategies, concepts, ideas and organizations that meet the social needs of different elements which can be from working conditions and education to community development and health — they extend and strengthen civil society. Social innovation includes the social processes of innovation, such as open source methods and techniques and also the innovations which have a social purpose — like online volunteering, microcredit, or distance learning.

….. but IT is of course big part of it - Open data / Hackathons - Big data - Apps - Using new technologies solving development issues and strengthening service delivery

UN Global Pulse◦ Global Pulse is a flagship innovation initiative of the United Nations Secretary-

General on big data.◦ Global Pulse functions as a network of innovation labs where research on Big

Data for Development is conceived and coordinated.◦ www.unglobalpulse.org

◦ Data for Development and Humanitarian Action examples◦ Anonymous privacy protected datasets for climate action◦ Nepal earthquake damage assessment◦ Libya humanitarian needs mapping

Interesting initiatives in our region

Moldova

Gamification - CommunityPlanIt.org: Youth Unemployment, Fight corruption

Macedonia

Job/internship/volunteer opportunities in real-time + online support

MY Municipality – engage with local decision makers

SMS info system that helps farmers reduce their use of polluting pesticides by providing up-to-date information on the most effective times to spray

Interesting initiatives in our region

Azerbaijan

One-stop-shot for integration of 270 state services (fixed fees, deadlines, call centers for complaints and improvements suggestions)

Belarus

Mobile apps “Eliminator of Myths of the HIV Topic” and “Bottle Hunter”; the campaign GreenMap.by, which uses a website and mobile app to give information about collecting recyclable and hazardous waste

”Career-Centre” — a project providing people with disabilities opportunities to work remotely.

UNDP/UNV Social Innovation and Volunteerism Project (Uzbekistan)

- www.iact.uz - Small Grants for innovators - eco-bags supporting women with disabilities - Do-It-Yourself Labs - Café Scientifique

Conclusion - Different solutions work in different countries - Define problem – design thinking – prototype – scale up - Be engaged - Ukraine has already good supporting infrastructure – start up accelerators, co-working hubs, IT clusters and networks

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