A pleasure to address the @UNICEF supported panel, "Africa Innovation Frontier,”’at @SusHiTech_SUEN in Japan today. Africa's startup ecosystem is one of the world's most dynamic, and when public and private sectors support young innovators, the opportunities are limitless.

📣 The @UNICEF CryptoFund is evolving. Stablecoins offer the transparency and efficiency of blockchain without the currency fluctuation of other digital assets, which is why the UNICEF CryptoFund has added #USDC to its humanitarian funding capabilities. Read the announcement ➡️ unicef.org/innovation/unicef…

Great to join a diverse group at #Davos to discuss how stablecoins can best support humanitarian action. Since 2019, working with key partners, UNICEF’s CryptoFund has accepted, held and deployed crypto to benefit children. Our Fund is evolving again with the addition of USDC.

Individual, corporate and institutional crypto donations to UNICEF can be made by contacting venturefund@unicef.org Find out more and support the UNICEF CryptoFund here juniper.unicef.org/

“When innovators design with women and girls in mind, they unlock solutions that improve health outcomes, strengthen financial agency, and create safer, more inclusive communities,” writes @bedisanna in @ImpactAlpha, highlighting why the @UNICEF Venture Fund is focusing on femtech into 2030.  ♀️ Securing over 1000 submissions from 85 countries to its first call for applications – a record breaking response in the Fund’s 10 year history, Sanna shares insights from the trends that emerged noting that: 🔵 Greater use of open-source approaches can accelerate innovation, affordability and expand access for women and girls. 🔵 Gender-adapted versions of proven products can expand access and add value. 🔵 The femtech pipeline is growing, but investment readiness is low. 🔵 Femtech startups are pushing into broader women’s health, beyond fertility. 🔵 Linkages between women’s health with financial empowerment are strengthening overall agency. 🔵 Femtech innovators are designing for offline-first and vulnerable populations, making tech more accessible. With support from @Ulkoministerio, @IndiaHealthFund, @SwedeninSA, and Temasek Foundation the UNICEF Venture Fund will continue to support an ecosystem of frontier tech start-ups in emerging economies developing impactful solutions. Click here to read the full article 👉🏽 impactalpha.com/the-rise-of-…

SPONSORED: A new wave of femtech startups, with innovative products and services designed for women and girls, is transforming lives in emerging markets. Such solutions are an untapped engine of social and financial returns, says @UNICEF'S @bedisanna. hubs.li/Q03KK6HY0

3/ UNICEF Crypto Fund. At first, I was skeptical. I thought the only way a UN org could use crypto was if a crazy insider pushed relentlessly for innovation. @chrisfabian turned out to be that person. The rare kind of crazy who also understood the true value of decentralization. UNICEF became the first UN agency to explore transparency and efficiency through crypto. I still remember the thrilling, sleepless nights before the launch at Devcon Osaka—his team waiting for final approval after hundreds of pages of paperwork. It was a meaningful milestone. Not just about tech, not just about UNICEF. For me, it was about shifting deeply rooted mindsets inside the most conventional systems—to inspire what could come next.

As the saying goes, 'Don't ask, don't get'. Well we asked and we definitely got. In March, we put out a call to fem tech start-ups in emerging economies to apply for funding from the @UNICEF Venture Fund. Their response was resounding and emphatic - the strongest we've had in the decade long history of the UNICEF Venture Fund. At a time when women and girls in emerging economies face systemic barriers to quality healthcare, financial services and economic opportunities- supporting an ecosystem of problem solving entrepreneurs and innovators is both timely and essential. More on this in our @FastCompany article 👉🏽 unicef.link/FemTech "The response to our first fem tech call has been brilliant - a testament of the truly impressive start-ups using breakthrough technologies in emerging economies to improve the lives of women and girls. Deciding on a cohort will not be an easy task, but we're looking forward to discovering the wealth of solutions behind each application," @bedisanna. The Venture Fund team has their sleeves rolled up and ready to select its first fem tech cohort - an impossible feat without the support of our strategic partners; @Ulkoministerio, @FinlandinIndia, @Sida, Temasek Foundation, and @foundation_gsr. Bold partnerships do deliver impactful outcomes!

Help us identify projects that are solving real-world problems and impacting communities all around the world! If you, or someone who you know, is building an application on #Ethereum that provides social infrastructure, including but not limited to ID, voting, supply chain, or traceability systems, we would love to hear from you. Share the project and what problem it solves below! Five years ago, we collected a list of Dapps impacting local and global communities and creating more equal opportunities. Now, let’s see what’s changed!

Did you know that 7 startup graduates from UNICEF's Venture Fund have exited or been acquired? For startup solutions that become recognized as a Digital Public Goods, it opens up avenues to grow quicker such as a global network, and deployment opportunities with governments, UN agencies and development partners. Learn more from Sanna Bedi at UNICEF Innovation who have supported startups in scaling digital products through open, safe and inclusive innovation. @UNICEFinnovate and @AfriLabs are teaming up for a webinar series to help innovation hubs, accelerators, startups learn more about how they can scale their impact through open, safe, and inclusive innovation featuring entrepreneurs who have successfully fundraised and exited, accelerator hubs who have supported startups and UNICEF's Venture Fund who's successfully invested in 81 startups throughout 37 countries. Register for the 1st webinar here by March 27: bit.ly/dpgswebinar Date & Time: 28 March 2024, 14:00-15:00 WAT, 15:00-16:00 SAST & CAT, 16:00-17:00 EAT Where: Online webinar (link to be provided upon registration) #digitalpublicgoods #dpgs #unicefinnovation #afrilabs #techforgood #startups #accelerators #innovation #techfordevelopment

Looking for leaders who can inspire the world to think about the next billion. If you have an idea to connect your project with Ethereum (no need to be currently doing so), the application for Cohort 4 is now available 👇

If you’re hacking #blockchain for good solutions, meet our team at ETHGlobal @UNICEFinnovate @ethereum @EFDevconnect @maharajan_arun @SOCT4D @amoghbanta

@UNICEFinnovate on stage explaining the UNICEF Venture Fund and blockchain history. Impressive impact track record!​ @EFDevconnect Thank you @bedisanna and @maharajan_arun! 🙏

Working on a #DigitalPublicGood created by or for public administrations in Europe? Then this award opportunity organized by @OSOR is for you! But don't hesitate, applications are closing soon!

Funding opportunity for #HealthTech startups! 📣 Are you using frontier technologies to improve children’s health, nutrition, or mental health? The @UNICEF Venture Fund is looking to invest up to $100K (equity-free) in #opensource tech solutions. 👉uni.cf/healthcall

@UNICEF_Nepal & Rumsan are helping to improve financial inclusion, accountability, & transparency 📈 in #Nepal. For more, #ImpactBrief2023: unicef.org/innovation/resear… @taira_ishikura

Innovation helps drive transformational change for children all over the🌎 Read the🆕 #ImpactBrief2023 to find out how, through dynamic partnerships, we are co-creating #InnovationImpact: unicef.org/innovation/resear…

check out the ⁦@UNICEF CryptoFund feature ⁦@UNICEFinnovate⁩ on the 8 Best Blockchain Donation Projects Improving Humanitarian Aid medium.com/@LOA_Labs/disrupt…

We are honored to welcome @bedisanna & Shane O'Connor from @UNICEF as speakers of #CVC23! Let's hear from them how blockchain & crypto can help us create a more sustainable future! Don't miss out on meeting them in person 🗓️ June 1-2 in Rotkreuz! ⚡️cryptovalleyconference.com/

Calling all Climate Tech Buidlers! 👀 Our frens @UNICEFinnovate have set up this great funding opportunity for #ClimateTech solutions 🍃🌍 Last call for startups to apply 👀