The Reimagine the UN Together Challenge is entering its final stage, with six teams heading to the Dragons’ Den to showcase their ideas to solve common business challenges across the UN system.

UN colleagues submitted 85 ideas to the Challenge, and 13 of those ideas made it to the long list for review by an independent Advisory Group. The Group analyzed each team’s clarity of problem, potential for impact, feasibility, the commitment and skills of the team behind it, as well as its potential for partnerships.

After careful deliberations, the Group selected the following five ideas, which they believe have the biggest potential for system-wide impact (login required or download an overview of the teams and their ideas):

  • conecta - a global platform linking people, skills and projects across the UN system
  • Skills 4 Future - an AI-powered career tool to explore career paths, skill gaps and development opportunities
  • UN Digital ID - an immutable, protected, transparent and universal identity for UN employees
  • UNicoins - digital tokens to incentivize and account for cross-system collaboration.
  • UNVizion - a UN-tailored graphic design tool to create and collaborate on visualizations and infographics 

The final idea advancing to the Dragons’ Den is the winner of the People’s Vote:

  • Mobility Marketplace – an inter-agency mobility network to enhance the agility of career and workforce planning – received one-third of the 1400 votes cast.

These six teams will go to the Dragons’ Den next month. 

The Reimagine the UN Together Alliance appreciates the effort of each team that participated in the Challenge and encourages everyone to continue developing their ideas. Check out the Ideas Garden (log in required) and share your expertise to Reimagine the UN Together!

     

     

    The Reimagine the UN Together Alliance wishes to express its deep gratitude to the members of the Advisory Group for lending their time and expertise! Members of the Advisory Group were chosen to ensure diversity of thought and broad commentary on the shortlisted teams:

    • Michael Emery: Director of HR, IOM
    • Bernhard Kowatsch: Head of the Innovation Accelerator, WFP
    • Kate Krukiel: General Manager, Digital Solutions Centre
    • Catherine Nassanga Namirembe Sozi: Resident Coordinator Ethiopia
    • Tanya Quinn-Maquire: President, Federation of International Civil Servants’ Associations
    • Kali Taylor: Policy Advisor, SDG Lab Geneva
    • Marina Walter: Resident Coordinator Trinidad and Tobago
    • Jonathan Wong: Chief of Technology and Innovation, ESCAP
    • Mirna Yacoub: Director and Chief of Staff, UNICEF

     

     

    The Reimagine the UN Together Challenge is driven by an alliance of interested individuals, networks and departments across the UN system, such as the UN Development Coordination Office, the UN Innovation Network, #NewWork, the UN System Staff College, Young UN: Agents for Change, and the Office of Information and Communications Technology, in consultation with staff unions and other key bodies.