UNDP Innovation Facility takes off

The United Nations Development Program is eyeing October to issue a new call for proposals for support by its newly established innovation facility. Launched in June, the facility backs activities, including projects, training and campaigns, by UNDP regional and country offices that “explore and try new approaches to increasingly complex development challenges.” So far, UNDP has awarded $3.5 million to 60 projects, with grants ranging from $14,000 to $350,000. Funding from the Danish government and core resources currently shore up the facility. Niloy Banerjee, head of the UNDP Innovation Facility secretariat, said more support may be coming following favorable conversations with other donor countries. Beyond the money, the facility provides technical resources to support the projects such innovation expertise from within and outside UNDP. In fact, according to Banerjee, who is also the director of the Knowledge, Innovation and Capacity Group at UNDP, the facility is least about the money. “Typically innovation funds are funds that will be provided at the cutting edge, meaning you want to try something new, you want to work in a safe-to-fail space, you want to do something that you think is a good idea that others have tried,” Banerjee pointed out. “Typically, those kinds of things don't need millions of dollars of investment capital.” If you have innovative ideas that advance UNDP’s strategic objectives, the agency, said Banerjee, welcomes them. Those ideas could just be picked up and be pitched by the country office to the facility. “We are interested in new ideas and new thinking,” he said. “We want to bring as much thinkers and ideators into the fold because we are very keen on the new development agenda, where we connect the dynamism of innovations with what we're trying to achieve in our day-to-day jobs.” To learn more about the facility and how you can contribute your ideas, Banerjee advises interested parties to sign up on their open social networking platform and follow his group on Twitter. Check out more practical business and development advice online, and subscribe to Money Matters to receive the latest contract award and shortlist announcements, and procurement and fundraising news.