Session
Theater
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: The selected room layout and duration should support a session that: (i) Will include multiple speakers presenting digital innovation/transformation initiatives in their respective UN Organizations, articulating also the governance criteria and approach established by the United Nations (UN)/Chief Executive Board (CEB)/High Level Committee on Management (HLCM)/Digital Technology Network (DTN); (ii) Is intended to attract a diverse audience from all stakeholder groups; and (iii) Provide adequate opportunities for interaction and Q&A.
Digital Innovation and Transformation in the UN System. • The importance of digital transformation has been widely recognized by UN entities, and many have ambitious digital strategies in place. • In his vision for a UN 2.0, the UN Secretary-General also highlighted the importance of harnessing digital technology for a future-proof UN system. • Yet, digital innovation and transformation in the UN system brings a range of unique challenges, such as organizational inertia, short-term planning and funding horizons, decentralized and fragmented initiatives leading to lack of scale, as well as lack of digital talent. • In this context, this proposed UN-IGF session aims to discuss the key challenges and spotlight successful approaches - and the learnings - for the wider UN system. • The session thus aims to inspire more digital innovation and transformation in the UN and highlight opportunities for synergies and best practices. The session will be structured on the basis of four presentations, as follows:
1. UNHCR Digital Strategy calls for greater digital inclusion for the forcibly displaced and stateless. With this inclusion comes great opportunity to learn, find work and connect with loved ones. However, increased inclusion brings new risks and threats. This may include increased risk of fraud, division of communities through online hate speech, mis and dis information and the risk from the use of emerging technologies in humanitarian settings. These risks are being impacted by the rapid growth in Artificial Intelligence and other technologies. This presentation will focus on how we can address and balance these risks.
2. UNICEF “Digital resilience for impact for children”: In this presentation, UNICEF will showcase how the organization considers digital resilience in its digital programming. Digital resilience includes data protection, information security and responsible use of data for children. With increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, as well as rapid advancements in digital innovation, maintaining digital resilience is key to ensure that digital solutions supported or used by UNICEF truly benefit children. The presentation will be led by Fui Meng Liew, Chief of the UNICEF’s global Digital Centre of Excellence.
3. UNJSPF: "The adoption of innovative technologies in support of e-Government for the aging population": UNJSPF implemented an innovative solution for supporting the "digital identity" and periodic "proof-of-life" process of the 84,000 UN retirees and beneficiaries residing in more than 192 countries. The UNJSPF solution created a state-of-the-art solution by leveraging blockchain, biometrics/facial recognition, artificial intelligence, and global positioning technologies. This presentation will articulate the UNJSPF lessons learned and best practices for ensuring a secure, efficient, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative to the traditional paper-based identity, authentication, and proof-of-life methods.
4. UNICC has over 50 years of experience as the largest strategic partner for digital solutions and cybersecurity within the United Nations system. UNICC designs and deploys transformational digital tools and programmes to support over 90 Clients and Partner Organizations in fulfilling their mandates. UNICC is committed to delivering innovative, forward-looking and reliable system-wide solutions in line with the UN Secretary-General’s Strategy on New Technologies, the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and the Common Agenda. With our world-class Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, data and analytics practice and an array of platform, software and infrastructure solutions, UNICC serves the entire of the UN family and other international organizations with similar missions and values for the benefit of the world.
- Dino Cataldo Dell'Accio, Chief Information Officer, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), IGO, Global;
- Michael Walton, Head of Digital Services, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IGO, Global;
- Fui Meng Liew, Chief of Digital Center of Excellence, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), IGO, Global
- Sameer Chauhan, Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), IGO, Global
- Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio, Chief Information Officer, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), IGO, Global
- Fui-Meng Liew, Chief of Digital Center of Excellence, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), IGO, Global
- Michael Walton, Head of Digital Services, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IGO, Global
- Sameer Chauhan, Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), IGO, Global
Dino Cataldo DellAccio, Chief Information Officer, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund; and Michael Walton, Head of Digital Services, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IGO, Global
Fui Meng Liew, Chief of Digital Center of Excellence, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), IGO, Global
Dino Cataldo Dell'Accio, Chief Information Officer, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), IGO, Global
1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-Being
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
12. Responsible Production and Consumption
17. Partnerships for the Goals
Targets: SDG 1: No Poverty - By increasing the efficiency and transparency of resource allocation, IFAD/TRACE helps ensure that aid reaches those who need it most, contributing to poverty alleviation efforts. SDG 2: Zero Hunger - IFAD/TRACE supports agricultural sustainability and productivity, directly impacting food security and efforts to eradicate hunger. SDG 3: Good health and well-being: By enabling retirees/beneficiaries to submit their proof-of-existence online, the UNJSPF solution supports health and well-being, crucial during times of global health crises (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic). SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - By streamlining processes and securing transactions, IFAD/TRACE fosters a more robust economic environment that can enhance job creation and economic development in rural areas. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - All four initiatives embody innovation through the application of new technologies in governance and development, promoting sustainable industrialization. SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure: The IFAD and UNJSPF solutions exemplify innovation in the financing development and modernizing the pension sector, leveraging blockchain, AI, and biometrics to enhance infrastructure and services. SDG 10: Reduced inequalities: All four initiatives ensure protection of end users and inclusivity, reducing inequalities by providing a universally accessible and user-friendly solution for users worldwide. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - The four initiatives can aid in ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns by providing more accurate data on access, connectivity, supply chains, and production processes. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - IFAD/TRACE enhances the means of implementation and revitalizes the global partnership for sustainable development through innovative technological partnerships. SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals: In collaborating with the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), the UNJSPF solution showcases the power of partnerships in achieving common objectives.
Report
Digital Innovation and Transformation in the UN System
The 2024 IGF Open Forum session, titled "Digital Innovation and Transformation in the UN System," focused on the challenges and successful approaches to digital transformation within the United Nations organizations. The 90-minute session featured presentations from four UN entities, highlighting their digital strategies and innovative solutions.
Session Objectives
The open forum aimed to:
1. Discuss key challenges in digital innovation and transformation within the UN system
2. Spotlight successful approaches and learnings
3. Inspire more digital innovation and transformation in the UN
4. Highlight opportunities for synergies and best practices
Key Presentations
UNHCR: Digital Inclusion and Risk Management
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) presented its Digital Strategy, which aims to promote greater digital inclusion for forcibly displaced and stateless individuals. While acknowledging the opportunities this inclusion brings, such as access to education and employment, the presentation also addressed the associated risks, including:
- Increased fraud potential
- Community division through online hate speech
- Misinformation and disinformation
- Risks from emerging technologies in humanitarian settings
The UNHCR emphasized the need to balance these risks, especially in light of the rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence and other technologies.
UNICEF: Digital Resilience for Children's Impact
UNICEF's presentation, led by the Chief of UNICEF's global Digital Centre of Excellence, focused on "Digital resilience for impact for children." The organization showcased its approach to digital resilience in programming, encompassing:
- Data protection
- Information security
- Responsible use of data for children
UNICEF stressed the importance of maintaining digital resilience in the face of increasing cyberattacks and rapid digital innovation to ensure that their digital solutions truly benefit children.
UNJSPF: Innovative Technologies for E-Government
The United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) presented its innovative solution for supporting "digital identity" and periodic "proof-of-life" processes for 86,000 UN retirees and beneficiaries across 192 countries. The solution leverages:
- Blockchain technology
- Biometrics and facial recognition
- Artificial intelligence
- Global positioning technologies
UNJSPF shared lessons learned and best practices for implementing a secure, efficient, sustainable, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional paper-based methods.
UNICC: Strategic Digital Solutions and Cybersecurity
The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) highlighted its role as the largest strategic partner for digital solutions and cybersecurity within the UN system. With over 50 years of experience, UNICC serves more than 90 Clients and Partner Organizations, focusing on:
- Innovative and reliable system-wide solutions
- World-class Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
- Data and analytics practices
- Platform, software, and infrastructure solutions
UNICC emphasized its commitment to supporting the UN Secretary-General's Strategy on New Technologies, Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, and the Common Agenda.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed
The session's content aligned with several SDGs, including:
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Each presentation demonstrated how digital innovation and transformation within the UN system contribute to achieving these goals through improved services, increased access to opportunities, and enhanced partnerships.
Presenters
- Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio, Chief Information Officer, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), IGO, Global
- Fui-Meng Liew, Chief of Digital Center of Excellence, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), IGO, Global
- Michael Walton, Head of Digital Services, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), IGO, Global
- Sameer Chauhan, Director, United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), IGO, Global