From experimenting with innovative approaches and harnessing digitalization to identifying drivers of environmental resource-based conflict, the Funding Windows leverage enablers, trends, and opportunities to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.
At the tip of the innovation spear
42%
of projects introduced innovative solutions
Going beyond mere technological advancements, flexible funds channelled through the Funding Windows have driven innovation by spearheading a shift from traditional, siloed approaches to a more dynamic framework that embraces experimentation, learning and adaptive management to tackle interconnected development challenges in line with UNDP’s new corporate portfolio policy.
Enabling systems transformation in Tunisia
In September 2023, UNDP Tunisia completed an 18-month journey to develop a “governance as a lever for socio-economic development” portfolio.
Funding Windows flexible resources were catalytic in providing space for the UNDP Tunisia team to build a shared understanding of policy challenges, accelerate momentum and align interests across partners. In the first six months of implementation, the portfolio received US$23 million in pledges and commitments from partners. Some key lessons learned through the portfolio-building process include: Activating an alliance for change. National partners committed to a new way of working together through technical and strategic committees. As implementation moves forward, UNDP will continue to generate evidence and insights to guide joint decision-making by all portfolio stakeholders and to mobilize political and financial support.
Building new tools for joint ownership. Funding Windows resources were used for the design of new tools and approaches that will allow a true portfolio approach to programming that operationalizes learning, people-centred monitoring and evaluation, and area-based and integrated approaches to data production and analysis.
Positioning learning as the core function. Partners agreed to establish a dedicated portfolio function that would generate analytics and knowledge for use in advocacy, learning and adaptive management.
IN FOCUS
Towards inclusive, ethical, sustainable and digital societies
32%
of projects advanced digital solutions
Funding Windows support in Moldova led to the establishment of the Digital Delivery Unit with Chief Digital Officers deployed to key ministries, along with efforts to strengthen the National Digitalization Council, underscoring commitment to implementing the country’s Digital Transformation Strategy. Led by the Ministry of Energy, the Energy Innovation and Technology Sandbox was launched, allowing for testing and scaling innovative technologies like smart electricity meters, projected to reach 35,000 users, and Renewable Energy Communities by 2025. The UNDP partnership with the ‘Tekwill in Every School’ programme successfully expanded IT-focused opportunities to a network of over 1,000 teachers and 70,000 students in 300 schools, demonstrating tangible progress in enhancing digital capabilities with a focus on inclusivity.
Managing environmental risks to safeguard people and planet
In our interconnected world, the nexus between inequality, environmental degradation and conflicts presents a complex challenge, influencing the vulnerability of communities and threatening social cohesion. Effective risk management that leverages the early identification of conflicts arising from resource deterioration is crucial in order to put in place multidimensional approaches amidst growing resource constraints.
To this end, Funding Windows resources supported collaborative efforts across communities to address drivers of environmental resource-based conflicts. Through multi-stakeholder dialogues and community engagement, UNDP demonstrated its commitment to promoting local solutions towards sustainable resource management and enhanced social cohesion to safeguard people and the planet.
18,300+
people benefited from reduction of tensions in communities affected by resource-related conflicts in Sri Lanka
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Water unites communities
Communities in Syria, Sri Lanka, and Djibouti were pushed apart and reconnected by water.