The United Nations designated 21 April as World Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.

Around the world, innovative approaches contribute to mitigating challenges such as poverty, hunger, environmental degradation. By expanding opportunities for everyone, they provide momentum for economic growth and job creation. Czech Innovations support this process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Georgia, Kingdom of Cambodia, Republic of Moldova and Republic of Zambia by successfully completing 51 projects to date.

Since 2018, the Czech-UNDP Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals seeks to bring unique innovative solutions from the Czech Republic’s private sector, NGOs, universities, state institutions, research centres and individuals to partner countries.

Projects and results

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Upcycling Challege project gave young fashion designers the opportunity to acquire a first-hand experience with design and production of garments in a sustainable way. The cooperation between Nadace Veronica and local partners concluded with a fashion show in Sarajevo which took place in 2019.

In Ethiopia, Czech innovation helps to facilitate access to vision care. Currently, the country has roughly 1 ophthalmologist per 700,000 citizens and many people especially in poor communities lack access to even basic vision care. With the support of the Czech-UNDP Partnership, a Czech start-up DOT Glasses seeks to make glasses more accessible using low-cost adjustable glasses.

Many countries struggle with low community participation in development planning. In Georgian city of Rustavi, Czech expertise helps to facilitate better communication and participation among stakeholders through several projects. Since 2019, Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs has supported three projects in Rustavi with funding provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. In total, expenditures on these projects reached 151,000 USD.

Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, works to implement a smart city solution to manage traffic and intersection coordination. Via cooperation with a Czech innovator CROSS Zlín, a.s., the pilot project sets up basis for modern urban traffic control infrastructure that improves quality of life in the city and makes transport safer and more efficient.

In rural areas of Cambodia’s Sammeaki Mean Chey and Tuek Phos districts of Kampong Chhnang Province, cooperation between Diakonie ČČE and local partners helps to improve access to women’s sanitary tools by developing affordable, comfortable, and locally made reusable sanitary pads. At the same time, the project provides local small women tailor businesses with work opportunities.

Just recently, the Skate World Better start-up started their work on a youth centre in Zambia. Citizens and especially youth in the city of Mongu will benefit from the creation of a community youth center, which will serve as a safe place for sports and educational activities.

About the Challenge Fund

Above mentioned projects were part of the Challenge Fund initiative. With funding provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the Czech-UNDP Partnership’s Challenge Fund brings innovative solutions from the Czech Republic’s private sector, NGOs, universities, state institutions, research centres and individuals to tackle specific developmental challenges in the priority countries.

New call for Challenge Fund proposals will be announced soon! To stay updated, follow the Czech-UNDP Partnership on LinkedIn.

The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official views of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, or of the United Nations, including UNDP, or UN Member States.