The development sector is full of proven, impactful digital solutions - from job training platforms for youth to digital IDs for refugees - that could support governments in helping more people more efficiently and effectively. 

However, a majority of these solutions are never widely adopted by governments. And in fact, a majority of government technology projects fail. There are many reasons why this happens, ranging from lack of connectivity to complex regulations to understaffing to inefficient procedures to lack of trust and more. 

So, what’s the solution? That’s where UNDP’s Digital X comes in.  

Digital X is UNDP’s Partnerships for Scale Programme finds innovative digital solutions for social impact and matches them with the real-world needs of governments in 170 countries where UNDP operates.

Digital X Solutions Catalogue

Digital X works with a network of existing accelerators, foundations and programmes to filter through thousands of digital solutions and recommends the world's most proven solutions.  The network helps UNDP curate solutions from UN organizations, social enterprises, nonprofits, universities and more. This extra layer of validation helps save public servants time and maximize impact by avoiding reinventing the wheel creating new solutions from scratch, or wading through proposals for apps and products which may not have credibility.

After passing a review from UNDP experts, top solutions are featured in the Digital X Solutions Catalogue, where UN partners or funders can search for digital solutions that fit their needs.

Digital X in action

The Digital X Solutions Catalogue currently includes 110+ ready-to-scale solutions – ranging from tools that use AI to fight malaria, satellites to reduce wildfires and drones to reduce deforestation – that are operating in 190+ countries and supporting 390 million people.  

When the Catalogue was launched in 2022, the first match that was facilitated by Digital X was between UNDP Dominican Republic and Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). HOT supported the government by crowd-source mapping damage from Hurricane Fiona, so they could develop disaster report response plans, evacuation routes and identify high-risk areas. What was the cost and time commitment? Free of charge and created in a matter of days.

This is just one example of how UNDP can help governments implement digital solutions. Other successful case studies include: 

• The Government of Djibouti and UNDP are partnering with Zzapp Malaria to use AI to reduce malaria cases by 50% in the city of Balbala.
• The Republic of Mali and UNDP are partnering with OKO Finance to incorporate 1,600 new smallholder farmers into the OKO parametric crop insurance platform. 

• Along with Bioverse, a startup using drones to help communities manage forests, the Government of Bolivia and UNDP will map up to 2,000 square kms to create a digital Nut Forest inventory that will improve the income of around 2,000 families 

   

Here's why it's important 

UNDP is on a mission to scale up what already works, reduce duplication and improve coordination across development actors. While impact at scale is notoriously difficult, UNDP’s vision is to help governments launch digital solutions that can support entire populations and last for the long-term.  

That’s why Digital X supports scaling digital solutions from not only UNDP, but also from other UN agencies, social enterprises, private sector, nonprofits, NGOs, universities and more. Below are three ways that Digital X is filling a critical gap in the ecosystem and meeting the needs of governments one digital solution at a time. 

1. Supports mature solutions, not early-stage ones. While thousands of accelerators exist around the world, nearly all of them support very early-stage solutions. While pitch coaching, business modeling and design thinking skills are valuable, UNDP invests in teams that have already been there, already have proven themselves by implementing in at least 3 countries and know what it takes to scale to even more.
2. Breaks silos and embraces the hard work of others. UNDP created a Digital X Network, a community that helps funnel top of the class digital solutions in their cohorts. Our partners include Digital Public Goods Alliance, DIAL, MIT Solve, XPRIZE, Google for Startups for Sustainable Development, Ashoka, Unreasonable Group, UNICEF Ventures, WFP Innovation Accelerator and more. 

3. Leverages the trust of governments in 170 countries. UNDP’s presence globally and key role with governments is unparalleled. With our intimate understanding of the needs and priorities of various ministries, UNDP is in a unique position to recommend digital solutions and explore partnerships with the right decision makers. 

    

What's next

Recently honoured as one of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas 2023, UNDP plans to grow Digital X’s online marketplace to 500 ready-to-scale solutions by 2024. So, if you have a digital solution and would like to become part of the Digital X Catalogue, let us know by completing this form. (Note that to be incorporated into the Catalogue you must pass a selection process or come recommended by our Digital X Network partners.)  

Perhaps you’re a social investor or a part of a foundation and you’d like to learn more about how you can help scale digital solutions with governments at various stages? Then look no further. Get in touch with us for more information.

Digital X is created by UNDP’s Chief Digital Office and UNDP’s Global Policy Network and is made possible thanks to the generous support from the Government of Japan.