Innovation Tag: Development and Aid

Guatemala's Mano a Mano transforms fragmented social policy into an integrated, data-driven system. By creating the Social Household Registry (RSH) and a coordination system, the innovation eliminates institutional silos, reduces clientelism, and enables real-time tracking of interventions across 11 institutions—resulting in more precise targeting of vulnerable households and measurable reductions in poverty and malnutrition through coordinated territorial interventions.

The project proposes a system for extracting and analysing information from the medical records of breast cancer patients, using artificial intelligence. This would support research, personalised medicine and health decision-making, benefiting clinicians and regional authorities. This provides an automated alternative to accelerate translational research, promote personalised medicine and improve the efficiency of health services.

The Korea Forest Service (KFS) identified a rising need for societal participation in recovering forests damaged by large-scale forest fires each year. A non-contact public interest campaign based on public participation was implemented utilizing a metaverse platform, recovering areas of forest fire. A single tree planted in the virtual world led to two actual new trees planted in actual forest-fire damaged areas. This is the first metaverse-based solution utilized in the field of forestry,…

In 2023, Estonia was the first in Europe to star using a nationwide food card, giving people the freedom to buy the food what they want and how they want. Aid is loaded on the card each quarter and must be used by the end of the quarter. If there is not enough money on the card, the remainder can be paid by bank card or cash (the balance can be checked on a receipt, at self-checkout or by customer service). Recipients in need have the autonomy to curate their own food baskets, tailoring their…

The Hub for Advisory, Finance and Investment for Enterprises (HAFIZ - Arabic word حافز for incentive) is an AI-powered integrated portal by Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation and works as a one-stop hub to avail to the private sector: (1) financial instruments (e.g. equity, debt, trade finance, insurance, guarantees, grants, etc.); (2) technical assistance services; and (3) knowledge products by international development partners.

SME Houses are one-stop-shop centers providing comprehensive services and support tools to SMSs during planning, starting, running and developing businesses. It is a unique initiative that allows mobilization and coordination of resources of all public and private stakeholders to contribute to development of SME sector. It makes it easier for those who often don’t know from where to get specific services to just go to one facility and get consultation, guidance, services and support.

Individuals often experience managing tasks related to individual finances and debt as burdensome and shameful. As a response, Financial advice clinics in Finland provide anonymous, low-threshold guidance and advice for citizens with small and large financial questions without booking an appointment. Citizens have the possibility to meet professionals from different fields simultaneously, and receive help for their financial issues at the same location.

The Public Employment Service (DYPA) in Greece has launched the PROSVASIS platform, a new digital platform which is based on the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AAΑ international standard. With the use of this platform persons with disabilities and especially persons with visual and hearing difficulties, physical and cognitive/mental disabilities have access to the content of the DYPA website thus promoting inclusiveness for these vulnerable social groups.

Marea Digital allows citizens to report local problems to the government, as well as local initiatives that are working for the communities’ well-being. Contrary to similar kind of initiatives, it’s innovative because it uses tech to allow the citizens to aggregate data about their communities’ problems, but also includes an offline strategy for the local government to design solutions with the citizens to solve the problems reported, fostering dialogue and collaboration to solve…

The Parliament of Vanuatu has struggled to fulfil its legislative, budget, oversight, and representation functions due to limited capacity to utilise trusted statistics. The Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics addressed this capacity gap through targeted training with Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary civil servants to improve policy making. This is the first focused effort in Vanuatu to introduce data for sustainable development monitoring to MPs with the aim of enhancing good governance.