Launched in 2023, the UN Global Pulse Accelerator is the United Nations’ programme for supporting UN-led teams in taking innovative solutions from pilots to widespread use, ensuring that impactful ideas reach more people and communities. Recognising that developing sustainable and scalable models for innovative solutions is often challenging, the programme offers an evidence-based curriculum that helps participants undertake a structured multidisciplinary approach to drive impact for people and the planet.
After a competitive selection process, the selected teams will be guided through a workshop journey to create strategies for scaling their innovative solutions with a pool of multidisciplinary experts. Each UN-led team will have the opportunity to engage with colleagues from other UN agencies and nurture a strong value network with key partners across public and private sectors. The teams with the most promising scale strategies will be awarded the Scale Catalyst Grant to support the implementation of their scale strategies, as well as be provided technical support and mentoring. This phase consists of individualised support, tailored specifically for their visions and needs, to implement the strategies developed during the workshop.
Since its launch, the Accelerator Programme has supported 14 teams from 8 different UN entities across two cohorts. It has awarded 5 Scale Catalyst Grants and tailored mentoring for teams from FAO, UNFPA, WFP and WHO to support the implementation of their scale strategies.
The call for the third cohort will be launched in May 2025.
Our impact
The aim of the programme is to:
- Assist UN-led teams to develop realistic and sustainable strategies for scaling their proof-tested innovative solutions, aimed at achieving impact for people and planet;
- Support the implementation of these scaling strategies by providing access to appropriate multidisciplinary methods, partners, mentoring, and support tailored based on the gaps and areas identified during the strategy development phase.