• English
• Français
• Español

• UNDP Home

• Skip to main content
• Home
• Human Development
• Reports
• Statistics
• NHDR Workspace
• Media Centre
• Countries
• Search

HDR Innovation Fund

Recipients of the Innovation Fund

A total of 25 nominees have been rewarded with financial support.
Their applications and projects can be reviewed through on the Funding Recipients' page.

I. Purpose

The purpose of the new HDR Innovation Fund was to supplement existing funds available at the country level for the process, production and dissemination/advocacy of HDRs. It was designed to contribute to “innovations”, meaning new ideas, practices or methods, that will support country offices to adhere to the principles of the UNDP Corporate Policy on NHDRs, and strived to reach the highest levels of scholarship and policy impact.

The HDR Innovation Fund was designed to contribute to excellence in any aspect of the HDR process, regardless of what stage the office currently was in the process. This varied from support to preliminary research and surveys through to post-launch workshops to advocate the report’s messages, and any stage in-between.

II. Rationale

Through the work of the NHDR Unit in support of HDR teams in over 100 countries, it came to our attention that two of the most serious challenges faced at this juncture in time are:

1. Funding shortfalls in light of a proliferation of reports. UNDP CO’s are being requested to produce MDG reports, CCA/UNDAF and sometimes make significant contribution to PRSP’s without any or much additional funding being made available.
2. Ensuring editorial independence of analysis, which can be compromised by funding modalities presently available to many UNDP COs, including in NCCs. Alternative sources of funding through a HQ-administered source can create space for mechanisms, surveys, processes, etc. that contribute to greater editorial independence.

The Innovation Fund was created as one means to address these two challenges, and to strengthen UNDP’s internal capacity to deliver operationally on its new vision – to move to upstream interventions that influence policy.

III. Funding

The HDR Innovation Fund was made possible by a generous contribution from the Dutch Partnership Programme in the amount of US$500,000. The maximum funding available for each request was US$25,000. Approximately 20 grants were awarded. The money was made available through the Country Office, on a competitive basis, to support higher quality, more influential HDRs.

IV. Selection Criteria

Proposals were assessed and selected based on the merit of each proposal. The Innovation Fund was designed to be flexible in order to reinforce the principles and characteristics that contribute to excellence in these reports in the area where it is most needed. The criteria were based on the six principles of the UNDP Corporate Policy on NHDRs, and addressed every stage of the HDR process, from initial research and consultations through launching and post-launch outreach activities.

Requests were made to specifically support activities and led to results in the following areas:

1. Excellence in Quality of Analysis (also includes excellence in the use of Data)
2. Excellence in Sustained Outreach and Advocacy for Policy Impact
3. Excellence in Participatory and Inclusive Process and Deepening National Ownership
4. Excellence in Presentation

A document is available that contains examples on suggested interventions and desired results in the above mentioned areas.

• Innovation Fund Examples [95 KB]

V. Operational Aspects

Application Process:
All UNDP Country Offices applied for the Fund regardless of status (LDC, MIC, NCC). Application were to be submitted by May 2003 and were not considered after the closing date. All applications received were automatically available on the HDRO web site and were reviewed by interested parties (any UNDP staff member with an email and password). Requests could not exceed US$25,000 per country office.

Selection Panel and Awards:
The Fund was managed by HDRO, with the participation of BDP and the Regional Bureaux to assist in the selection of proposals. The Fund was designed for rapid approval and swift disbursement. On 9 May 2003, HDRO convened the selection panel to review all requests received by 2 May on a competitive basis. Requests were rated and selected for their innovative quality and relevance to the Fund’s criteria. The Fund was not bound to meet any specific pre-set geographical quotas; proposals were assessed on their merit.

The Selection Panel awarded approximately 20 grants out of a US$500,000 Fund. The Selection Panel reserved the right not to award grants if the proposals received do not meet the Fund’s criteria.

Popular Vote:
One unique feature of the Innovation Fund was to use the web and information technologies to promote the Fund and make the application and review process fully transparent and participatory. To this end, a popular vote process was established to encourage maximum involvement and participation in the Fund. Applicants and visitors alike were able to view all applications as they came in and for a period of 5 days after the closing date on 2 May, to cast a vote for the best proposal submitted online. This gave an opportunity for interested offices to examine submissions, to compare notes and ideas and to express their opinion about the best proposal. The proposal that received the greatest number of popular votes was recognized on the Web site and on the Fund’s consolidated report. In addition, the winning office received a grant of $5,000 for HDR activities. However the result of the popular did not determine the final decision of the Selection Panel.

Disbursement of Funds:
Funds were disbursed to the CO immediately after the decisions were made. Country Offices that were awarded resources from the Fund had one year to complete activities and report on the use of funds and results achieved. The funds were managed by the CO in accordance with UNDP Financial Regulations and Rules and procedures. UNDP collected an amount to cover the costs for administration and related services.

Reporting:
COs needed to submit a final report (narrative and financial) one year after receipt of funds. Due to the exigencies of the donor, recipient offices also needed to prepare an interim report by 7 November 2003 including both a narrative and financial summary reflecting activities financed through the fund and the results achieved. An outline for this report was provided. The final report was due in May 2004 and funds needed to be fully used by that time.

VI. The Web Approach

One innovative aspect of the fund has been its use of the web as a platform for advocacy and dialogue on the fund and other NHDR work and to bring more staff and people to the UNDP and HDRO’s web sites. All fund information, guidelines, application forms, submissions and results are web based. A new page is now in place to interact with the 20 winning offices and to manage the implementation, monitoring, follow up and reporting processes.

The visitor’s data provide useful feedback on accessibility, relevance and user friendliness of the pages and will be used to help improve the content focus, quality and relevance accordingly.