UNDP Tech, Innovation and Sustainable Development

Who really benefits from AI? 🎧
On CAIO Connect, Sanjay Puri speaks with Robert Opp (CDO, UNDP) on building AI that serves everyone—not just a few. From refugees to the Global South, this is AI with purpose.

Watch now: https://youtu.be/uqc-R2mwnPM

#CAIOConnect #RobertOPP #UNDP

Digital change is moving fast. In 2026, UNDP will engage across key global moments on AI, data, open source, and digital public infrastructure - focused on responsible, inclusive digital transformation.

Twelve moments to watch in 2026 ➡️ www.undp.org/digital/blog...

Poster of the Global Innovation Challenge for "Affordable Tools to Find and Mark Underwater Explosive Ordnance". The best solution has the opportunity to win the Award of $20,000. The deadline for submissions is March 9, 2026.

🔎 UNDP is seeking affordable, safe, and easy-to-use tools that allow community members — not just specialists — to detect underwater explosive ordnance (EO) and mark their location.

Working on related solutions? Submit your proposals and let us know ➡️ undp.community.innocentive.com/challenge/9e...

✨ It's the holiday season, and with that, the topic of #foodwaste often arises. We're ending the year by exploring the promise of novel #agrifoodtech in tackling food loss and waste!

Learn more about the technologies for 🗑️ waste prevention and ⚙️ waste valorization: www.undp.org/policy-centr...

YouTube video by UNDP Singapore Global Centre Clean Air, Shared Solutions: Launch of the Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Toolkit and Panel

🔴 Recording now available!

Last week, we hosted a webinar going through our Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Toolkit and the pilot in Hanoi, as well as an expert panel on empowering communities for cleaner air.

📍 Watch it here: youtu.be/ir-ptfqvUxo

Event poster for "Clean Air, Shared Solutions: Launch of the Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Toolkit & Panel Discussion", featuring motifs of air quality monitoring sensors linked to tablets and smartphones, as well as photos of the event speakers, which include Tran Thi Bao Anh (Head of Exploration, UNDP Viet Nam), Dr. Anika Krause (Scientific Advisor, AirGradient), Farah Kazi (Project Manager, EPIC Air Quality Fund, Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago), Colleen Rosales (Strategic Partnerships Director, OpenAQ) and Professor Hoang Anh Le (Lecturer at VNU University of Science).

Excited to launch the Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Toolkit - a DIY resource empowering communities to generate hyperlocal air quality data 📩

📅 Join us next Thursday (18 Dec) at 7am (EST) for the launch + expert panel on community-driven air quality monitoring: bit.ly/CASSair

UNDP's Chief Digital Officer, Robert Opp, on screen delivering his keynote address at Cities: Possibilities 2025 Singapore.

Carla Gomez Briones (Acting Head of UNDP Global Centre in Singapore), Chun Yin Mak (Global Senior Vice President at Univers), Karishma Kashyap (Associate Director, Cities, States & Regions, APAC at CDP) and Dinesh Naidu (Director of Knowledge at Chandler Institute of Governance) on stage for the closing plenary on building smart and resilient cities in a fragmented world.

At #CitiesPossibilities last week, one message stood out: human-centric urban planning and thoughtful utilization of both low- and high-tech innovations are key to a sustainable urban future.

Grateful for this platform to advance discussions and foster collaborations around resilient cities!

A collage of four photos showing low-cost air quality sensors installed in different locations, both indoors and outdoors.

Discussion session with students/participants of the pilot.

⛅ Does the path to cleaner air begin with informed local communities?

Explore how pairing technology with local engagement can help address #airpollution in our latest blog reflecting on our low-cost air quality monitoring pilot in Viet Nam ➡️ go.undp.org/is4

Poster of "Savannah at COP30: Expanding ESG Reporting for Micro and Small Companies", happening on Tuesday, 18 November 2025 at 7am (New York)/ 9am (Brasília)/ 8pm (Singapore). Learn all about our digital sustainability reporting pilot in Brazil in an hour on Maloca, your global gateway to COP30.

Is adopting a digital baseline #ESG metrics and tech-enabled disclosure tools the way forward to support #MSMEs?

Find out with us as we reflect on the results of our Project Savannah pilot at #COP30!

📅 18 Nov 2025
🕙 09:00–10:00 (UTC–3)
🔗 Register on Maloca: forms.gle/7RKVph2G9T2B...

Event poster for "Human-Centered AI for Development Impact: Global Perspectives and Pathways" happening on 17 November 2025 from 09:30 to 10:30 AM EST. The poster features H.E. Prof. Dr. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchn (Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Morocco), Federic Werner (Chief, Strategy and Operations, TSB, ITU), Dr. Rebecca Homkes (Lecturer at London Business School and Duke Corporate Executive Education and Best-selling author of Survive, Reset, Thrive) and Niloy Banerjee (UNDP Ghana Resident Representative) as speakers, and Yu Ping Chan (Head of Digital Partnerships and Engagement at the UNDP Digital, AI & Innovation Hub) as the moderator.

UNDP's first-ever AI Week begins 17 November. Our opening session will gather global experts to explore how human-centered #AI can accelerate the SDGs while protecting rights and inclusion.

📆 17 November 2025
⏲️ 9.30 - 10.30am EST
Click here to register: bit.ly/44aZyWv

A group photograph of participants at the GFCE Southeast Asia Regional Meeting during the Singapore International Cyber Week 2025.

A group photograph at the Leaders' Forum with Prof Johan Rockström: Planetary Turning Point, organized by Temasek Trust.

A photograph of five individuals in business attire networking at the sidelines of the event.

Leveraging partnerships and innovation remains crucial for sustainable development.

We had a fruitful past few weeks at the Singapore International Cyber Week, and at Temasek Trust's Leaders' Forum with @pik-potsdam.bsky.social's Johan #Rockström. Looking forward to catalyzing more collaboration!

🛡️ Coming Up: Global DPI Summit 2025 | Every DPI with Safeguards: From Vision to Practice

4 Nov | 2–3 p.m. (GMT+2) | Cape Town

Speakers:
Robert Opp, @undp.org
Carolyn Florey, @adb.org
@Kaan Cetinturk, @unicef.org
@mamcnaughton.bsky.social, Co-Develop

🔗: globaldpisummit.org

#SafeDPI #GDPIS25

Climate change can feel abstract - numbers make it real.

Ahead of #COP30, let's make sense of the climate crisis with 30 science-backed numbers telling the real story.

Find out why #ClimateCounts 🟰 go.undp.org/ClimateCounts

A collage of four photos with the SDG wheel in the middle. In a clockwise direction, the first photo shows discussions ongoing in a room, the next photo shows a monitoring device in action and the user interface of its associated mobile app. The third image is a group photo of all participants of the exchange, while the last image shows the interface of one of the presented solutions, "Rodent Watch", on a laptop screen.

Last week, we had an inspiring exchange with the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute Incubation Programme, exploring how innovation & youth leadership are driving health impact across Asia. It was encouraging to learn of their AI-driven & biosensor-based health solutions in various contexts💙

A graphic listing the titles and hero images of the five blogs of the Air Pollution Blog Series. The first blog is titled "Leveraging Low-Cost Sensor (LCS) Solutions for Hyperlocal Air Quality Monitoring". The second blog is titled "Applications of LCS for Citizen Engagement and Air Pollution Mitigation". The third blog is on "Integrating LCS with Advanced Analyses and Applications for Improving Air Quality Management". The fourth is titled "Innovative Air Quality Monitoring in Singapore: Insights from a LCS Study by the National Environment Agency (NEA)". The last blog is titled "Enabling Access to Air Quality Data: Global Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting Products".

Access to air quality data is critical for awareness of air pollution levels before steps can be taken to protect human health. #ClimateSky

Together with the National Environment Agency, we designed a blog series exploring the real world application & potential of low-cost sensors: go.undp.org/wKL

BOOST x CEF: Green Urban Tech - BOOST

Applications are now open for the BOOST x CEF: Green Urban Tech call for innovations!

UNDP is calling on innovators worldwide to submit their digital, AI, or blockchain-powered solutions that help cities become greener, smarter, and more resilient. Apply by 19 October: bit.ly/4gneC8C

Ask leaders in tech about the digital future. Submit your question to Digital@UNGA by 19 September 2025.

By joining our #DigitAllVoices campaign, you can help shape the future of the digital world.

Share your questions about our digital future by September 19, and we will pass them on to technology sector leaders. ➡️ bit.ly/3VeAjOn

An image of the Singapore skyline, overlaid by the title of the report: "Singapore Business Carbon Report 2024", and a description: "Carbon reporting becomes business critical. From 2025, all Singapore-listed firms must disclose emissions. This regulatory shift is a pivotal step toward greater transparency and climate accountability. Download the report to learn more."

Recently, we had the privilege to contribute to UN Global Compact Network Singapore's latest Business Carbon Report, discussing policy design approaches for carbon tax, & how digital tools can support the different phases of carbon tax adoption.

Access the report: unglobalcompact.sg/tools-resour...

Quote card featuring a comment by Celina Yong, Senior Regional Technical Advisor, UNDP: “High-integrity carbon markets require more than just carbon accounting. Countries need credible baselines, independent verification, safeguards for indigenous and local communities, and transparent registries to build trust and ensure benefits flow back to host countries.”

Effective decarbonization is not only about adopting the right tools or frameworks.

Learn more about the role of digital technologies and other considerations for making carbon markets work: www.undp.org/policy-centr...

A quote card featuring a comment by Maitreyee Mukherjee, Research Fellow, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, LKYSPP: “You can’t just take a textbook version of carbon tax and assume it will work. You need to look at your institutions, your political economy, your data systems. That’s where the work really begins.”

What does it take to turn climate ambition into action❓

Earlier, we held our Accelerator for Decarbonization Programme, inviting practitioners and partners to explore tools and exchange experiences for mutual learning.

Check out the key takeaways: www.undp.org/policy-centr...

Screenshot of the "Healthy Cities by Design: Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience" Zoom webinar in progress, hosted by UNDP and the Centre for Liveable Cities on 22 July 2025.

Recap blog and recording of our webinar is now available!

Highlights include:
⚖️ How equitable urban design serves as the foundation for healthy cities
🌱 How UNDP is supporting locally-led climate adaptation in Bangladesh
☀️ Practical strategies for reducing urban heat

👉 undp.org/policy-centr...

From the beginning, UNDP has pioneered solutions alongside partners to tackle humanity's most pressing challenges, including poverty, inequality and climate change.

And as the world has evolved, so have we.

Check out our history and milestones: feature.undp.org/undp-at-60/

#UNDP60

An infographic featuring the UN SDG colour wheel, with a paragraph alongside each SDG explaining how testbeds contribute to achieving that particular goal.

By placing people at the heart of experimentation, testbeds can help transform uncertainty into opportunity, build trust, and drive sustainable development.

💡 Find out how in our latest Handbook for Building People-Centric Testbeds: www.undp.org/policy-centr...

In shaping smarter cities, an expanded digital and innovation toolkit is essential. #OpenSource tools are important additions that can improve:

✅Transparency
✅Agility
✅Resident engagement

More on how open source can drive sustainable urban development 👉 go.undp.org/o2H

Several cities have used #digitaltwins to understand, monitor, simulate and optimize urban systems.

Through the Punggol Digital District in Singapore, learn how a 50-hectare business park can be transformed into a living lab for sustainability and innovation: go.undp.org/wx7

📹: dConstruct Robotics

How do we put 'Responsible AI' into action and impact?

In our latest blog with GovTech Singapore and AI Singapore, we discuss how AI governance tools, AI skills and capabilities development help to unlock AI's potential in advancing #sustainabledevelopment for all.

Read here: go.undp.org/wc6

Creating smarter cities goes far beyond deploying technology.

While #smartcities focus on deploying technical solutions to urban challenges, #smartercities seek to enhance the wellbeing of its residents.

How can we guide the development of people-centered smarter cities? go.undp.org/wiH

Screenshot of the online learning session underway with a slide showing a table of how CBDCs compare to other forms of digital and non-digital currencies on the left. On the right is a column of speakers who participated in the webinar, namely, Heng Wang (Professor of Law, Singapore Management University), Thomas Beloe (Director, UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub), Prerna Saxena (Head of Asia Pacific, Better Than Cash Alliance), Sirin Kumar (General Manager, FinTech Department, RBI), and Swapnil Kumar Shanu, Assistant General Manager, RBI).

How can we drive financial inclusion through Central Bank Digital Currencies?

We recently released a methodology paper unpacking the 5 steps of CBDC implementation, alongside an online learning session with the authors & experts from the Reserve Bank of India.

📄Read the full paper: go.undp.org/wwo

Cover of the fourth article of our Novel Agrifood Technologies for Sustainable Development Series, titled "How Precision Agriculture can Play a Transformative Role in Smallholder Food Production", featuring motifs of drones and irrigation systems in agriculture.

#PrecisionAgriculture 🌱 can help improve productivity, yields, and support smarter decision making.

But more can be done to its accessibility to smallholder farmers 👩‍🌾 globally.

➡️ Learn more in our latest article: go.undp.org/w4t

#foodsystems #SustainableAgriculture

Poster of the webinar titled "Healthy Cities by Design: Green Infrastructure and Climate Resilience", with details of the speakers: Tan Shin Bin (Assistant Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore), Yugesh Pradhanang (International Programme Manager, UNDP Bangladesh), and Cristina Kuo Lin (Divisional Director, Atelier Ten, an SJ company). The event will be held on 22 July 2025, 4pm (Singapore time).

As we confront growing climate risks and urbanization, reimagining the built environment is increasingly a necessity.

Next week, we'll be exploring how cities can use climate-responsive design and digital innovation to build healthier urban environments.

Join us on Zoom 👉 bit.ly/hcdgicr