As the world confronts a cascade of intersecting crises — from escalating geopolitical tensions to climate shocks and widening inequalities — the need for bold innovation has never been more urgent. Yet, just as grassroots ingenuity begins to unlock transformative solutions to these global challenges, sweeping cuts to development assistance threaten to dismantle the very ecosystems that nurture such breakthroughs. Our global community has a responsibility to ensure that this tap is not turned off just as a new wave of local, life-changing solutions begins to flow.
When we think of innovation, minds often turn to Silicon Valley’s gleaming campuses and boardrooms, cutting-edge apps, and billion-dollar startups. But across the globe, grassroots innovators are quietly revolutionizing their communities, responding to challenges with groundbreaking solutions. They are turning plastic waste into low-cost housing materials or exploring the genetic makeup of mushrooms to boost food security, and much more. In a world of 8 billion people, the next Steve Jobs could just as easily emerge from a vibrant city market or a classroom in Kenya, Brazil, or the Philippines as from Silicon Valley.
But these innovators need more than just a great idea — they need the time, space, and resources to experiment, fail, and ultimately succeed. That’s precisely the vision behind the Accelerator Labs Network. Launched in 2019 by the United Nations Development Programme, the network has expanded to 113 countries to harness the often-overlooked, untapped knowledge and ingenuity of communities and unveil local innovations for new solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
About the author
Achim Steiner@ASteiner
Achim Steiner has been the administrator of the U.N. Development Programme since 2017. Steiner is also the vice-chair of the U.N. Sustainable Development Group, which unites 40 entities of the U.N. system that work to support sustainable development. Prior to joining UNDP, he was director of the Oxford Martin School and professorial fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford. He led the U.N. Environment Programme from 2006 to 2016, helping governments invest in clean technologies and renewable energy.
