INGENIEUR
and data monitoring for improved quality of life versus adequately protecting citizen privacy and personally-identifying biodata .
Making health an explicit focus of smart city initiatives that span multiple agencies , sectors and disciplines , could reduce leading environmental and social risk factors for non-communicable diseases , increase the accuracy and availability of health data to inform prioritisation and decisionmaking , improve access to health care services and better control infectious disease outbreaks . It could also allow countless new opportunities to deliver more effective and accurately targeted social protection programmes , while giving citizens new means to interact with and participate in Government , bringing a more equitable and democratic voice to those that have been traditionally marginalised or ignored .
UN-HABITAT Innovation Unit – UN-HABITAT
Innovation is now an essential problem-solving system for our everyday living and our capacity to tackle the most pressing challenges the world faces today . Most of these challenges , including those that result from unplanned or unsustainable urbanisation , occur simultaneously and are interconnected , meaning that the next generation of innovators has a responsibility and opportunity to respond with innovative knowledge , tools and activities . Cities require low-cost , practical and tested solutions that build sustainable communities , healthy lives and economies that leverage creativity and digital transformation . Innovation is critical for UN-Habitat and its partners to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals as part of the 2030 Agenda .
Cities need an integrated , dynamic and nuanced understanding of innovation to inspire organisations and communities to develop imaginative , effective solutions to the biggest challenges . When applied in the right context , innovation can act as a catalyst for change , deliver impacts at scale , put people at the centre and build a better future for all .
UN-Habitat has developed a dynamic , integrated approach to innovation : For UN- Habitat , innovation means embracing new ideas , up-to-date means and fresh approaches to our work . It incorporates both digital and non-digital technologies as both work in tandem together . It can take shape as an approach , a process , a practical tool or an application . It is based on horizontal and collaborative working practices that consider a diverse range of views and considers the context in which the innovation is taking place .
Working closely with cities , regions and countries , our innovation programmes and projects support bold and progressive ideas and translate them into long-term changes in the countries and cities we work in , ensuring that no one and no place is left behind .
UN-Habitat offers a range of innovation tools and knowledge :
a . Innovative approaches and methodologies Tackling urban challenges with new ideas and knowledge or a new perspective is a unique feature of UN-Habitat ’ s approach to innovation . We develop , prototype , test , and learn from our experience , which makes our methods stronger and more relevant .
b . Technical guidance to Governments UN-Habitat brings a depth and breadth of sustainable urbanisation knowledge when considering innovative solutions . We add value to our knowledge by providing the guidance and tools to promote innovative participatory approaches promoting the collection of new and deeper data and dynamic multi-sector partnerships . We support Governments with smart city planning and connect National Urban Policies with smart city plans .
c . Unique tools UN-Habitat develops practical tools to help national and local Governments and other stakeholders have innovative and practical tools at hand to address their urban challenges , whether tools that create dynamic and inclusive participatory
62 VOL 93 JANUARY-MARCH 2023