SUPPLY ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Local Delivery Global ... - Unicef

A champion of new products and
innovations
In many developing countries, it is children (usually
girls) and women who are responsible for fetching
water. For the average family of six people this can
represent between 50 and 90 litres per day. Add
to this the fact that in Africa the average distance
walked to get water is 5.5 kilometres. It becomes
simple to see how a household’s need for water can
prevent girls from attending school, not to mention
increase the risk of their coming into contact with
contaminated water and disease.
Finding innovative solutions to the chore of fetching
water is just one area where UNICEF is focusing
its efforts. In 2008, Supply launched an Innovation
Strategy, including a business model and innovation
generator, creating an efficient process for identifying,
defining and addressing needs and problems - with the
goal of developing new products, services and processes.
The innovation generator model streamlines
the methodology to ensure that innovation is based
on actual user needs.
So far, eight pilot projects have been identified
with help from field, Programme and Supply staff.
These include a Mother-Baby Pack for prevention
of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS, and
several water and sanitation related products, such
as a light, compact, and durable water container that
is still rigid enough to be carried on the head. Also
being explored is how SMS technology solutions
can strengthen the delivery of goods, initially in the
distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and
bednets.
We recognise that finding innovative, end-user-driven
solutions is something we cannot do alone. Our
future lies in a fruitful dialogue between end-users,
academia, design experts, businesses and other partners.
Each has something to contribute; creativity
breeds creativity, helps challenge the status quo and
challenges us all to think outside the box.
In 2008, we established strong networks with
academia – specifically innovation specialists and design
schools. We have created links to the Index Award, and
have provided design briefs as part of the Aspen Design
Challenge - with the purpose of engaging the millennial
generation in solving an emerging set of global
issues. These relationships and others will continue
to be built in the coming years. In the short-term, we
expect to identify several tangible
solutions for the initial set
of challenges, and identify new
problems as UNICEF continues
to influence the global innovation
agenda for children.
SUPPLY ANNUAL REPORT 2008 9