UNICEF Digital Impact

Епизоди

• Connectivity Cast Ep #2: How AI Can Be Used for Social Good 02.07.2026 44мин

  This episode 2 of Connectivity Cast, the new UNICEF Digital Impact podcast, explores ideas around how artificial intelligence can be used for social good in science, technology, and education. It features Pascal Van Hentenryck, Professor and Director of the AI Hub at the Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech. This conversation with the show’s host, Ivan Dotu Rodríguez, Giga’s Applied Science Lead, was recorded ahead of our inaugural “Giga Talks” event at the Giga Tech Centre in Barcelona, a space for exploring how technology supports development projects. Pascal joined the Giga team in Barcelona to present his insights on how AI can advance areas such as education, healthcare, mobility, research, and beyond. In this episode, you will dive into one of the questions currently dividing society: is AI ultimately helpful or harmful? Listen to hear their take.
• Bits&Bytes: Digital connectivity for all children 11.06.2026 3мин

  In this interview, Marija Novkovic Gosić from UNICEF discusses the global efforts to bridge the digital divide, focusing on connecting schools and children to the internet. She highlights innovative projects, research findings, and the importance of digital access for children's rights and socioeconomic development.
• Connectivity Cast: EP#1 with Naza Alakija: Are Girls Included in the Connectivity Conversation? 05.05.2026 37мин

  In the inaugural episode of Connectivity Cast, we welcome Naza Alakija, founder of the Evoca Foundation, whose work spans climate action, education, and gender equality from Afghanistan to Nigeria to Rwanda. It features an engaging, frank, and open conversation hosted by Christopher Fabian, UNICEF Digital Inclusion Lead and Giga Co-Lead. Together, Christopher and Naza connect her work to a broader global challenge: girls’ access to the internet, safe connectivity, and the urgent need to ensure that girls are not left behind in the digital future.
• Bits&Bytes: Where art meets humanitarian action: the UNICEF Giga Photo Award 08.04.2026 4мин

  In this episode, we explore where art and humanitarian work meet through the UNICEF Giga Photo Award. Joined by Daniel Ginsianmung, we talk about how photography can help tell stories about digital connectivity in ways that data and policy alone often cannot. The conversation looks at why youth and emerging photographers from the global south are central to this work, and how visual storytelling can translate complex issues such as access, inequality, and urgency into something deeply human. From everyday moments of connection to the realities of being offline, this episode reflects on the power of images as an advocacy tool, and on the importance of giving young photographers the space to tell their own stories.
• Working through chaos in Haiti 05.03.2026 4мин

  In this episode of Bits&Bytes, Junior Alexander, UNICEF’s Head of ICT in Haiti, reflects on his work keeping vital digital systems running in one of the most challenging contexts in the world. He shares how connectivity, satellite links, and solar‑powered solutions help sustain essential services for children despite violence, instability, and widespread outages. Junior speaks openly about the emotional impact of witnessing the crisis up close, the resilience of communities, and why supporting children gives his work purpose. A story of dedication, urgency, and hope in the middle of Haiti’s ongoing emergency.
• Child rights in the age of AI 04.02.2026 5мин

  How will artificial intelligence shape the lives of the children who are growing up with it? In this episode, we speak with Henrietta Ridley, UNICEF’s first Chief of AI, about what it really means to build a child‑centric digital future at a time when technology is moving faster than policy, ethics, and even public understanding. Henrietta unpacks the big questions: How do we ensure AI serves every child, not just those represented in today’s datasets? What risks and opportunities does AI bring to childhood, privacy, learning, and identity? How can UNICEF make sure children’s voices are heard by tech companies and governments shaping the systems they’ll grow up using? From global equity and language gaps to data rights and ethical dilemmas, this is a clear, grounded conversation about using AI responsibly, thoughtfully, and for the benefit of the next generation. This episode is for anyone working at the intersection of technology, rights, and the future of childhood.
• Breathing data: how Laos’ schools are mapping air pollution 11.12.2025 4мин

  When seasonal haze turns dangerous, UNICEF’s Air for Tomorrow project brings open‑source sensors and connectivity to schools across Laos, turning “we can feel it” into actionable data that protects children and communities.
• Bringing HOPE to whoever needs it most 06.11.2025 4мин

  In this episode of Bits&Bytes we hear from Gabriele Erba and Domenico Di Nicola to discover how UNICEF’s HOPE platform is transforming humanitarian aid through digital cash transfers, open-source technology, and AI-driven innovation. We dive into how HOPE helps deliver secure, scalable, and fast financial assistance to families with children in need—across more than 30 countries and over $850 million distributed. Learn how HOPE (Humanitarian cash Operations and Programme Ecosystem) integrates with financial service providers, uses face recognition to prevent fraud, and empowers governments and humanitarian organizations with modular, open-source software. We also explore the future of cash assistance, including AI-powered automation, risk mitigation, and user-centered design. Whether you're in humanitarian tech, digital finance, or child protection, this episode offers insights into how technology can drive impact at scale.
• Using AI to decode adolescent mental health 05.08.2025 5мин

  In this episode of Bits&Bytes, UNICEF colleagues Mirella Hernani and Viviana Canyon Tamayo explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and adolescent mental health. This conversation dives into how AI can help identify early signs of distress among youth. Learn about partnerships with social media companies and the ethical complexities of using data for social good. UNICEF follows governance, ethical and safeguarding standards to ensure responsible use of AI in mental health. AI tools discussed in this episode are not substitutes for professional judgement, and any use of data adheres to ethical and legal guidelines. We encourage listeners to engage critically and consult trusted sources for guidance on ethical AI and child mental health.
• Innovating for Impact: UNICEF's 5D Framework 04.06.2025 3мин

  Join Luna Kim and Shalini Subbiah from UNICEF's Office of Innovation as they delve into the transformative power of the 5D innovation framework. Discover how this multipurpose tool is helping UNICEF identify, validate, and scale innovations to tackle systemic barriers and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Luna and Shalini share their experiences, motivations, and the journey of developing the 5D framework, highlighting its impact on global innovation and child welfare.
• Ethical AI for all children 03.04.2025 4мин

  In this episode we explores the transformative role of digital technologies and AI in children's lives. Kaan Cetinturk, UNICEF Chief Information Officer, shares insights on how AI can enhance education, healthcare, and digital access for children, particularly those in underserved areas. The conversation also addresses the importance of ethical AI use and bridging the digital divide to ensure equitable access for all children.
• Using AI to save lives 03.03.2025 4мин

  Anthony Mockler and Hugo Ruiz Verastegui are data scientists at UNICEF's Data Lab in Bangkok. Discover how their unique backgrounds and experiences in AI and machine learning are driving innovative solutions for humanitarian challenges. From detecting illegal landfills to supporting emergency responses with real-time data, Anthony and Hugo share their journey, motivations, and the impact of their work. Learn about their commitment to open source and digital public goods, and their vision for the future of AI in humanitarian aid.
• Championing youth volunteering in India with Meri LiFE 29.01.2025 3мин

  Seep Agrawal from UNICEF India talks to Bits&Bytes about Meri LiFE, a climate-related digital platform that has attracted over 25 million users and more than 100k downloads across India. The platform allows young people to put their creative ideas about climate change into action, providing support through training, mentorship, funding, collaboration, and tools to advance climate volunteering.
• 25 years of digital impact in Sudan’s emergencies 05.12.2024 2мин

  Elshabi Mahmoud, ICT Specialist in Sudan, tells us about his 25 year experience in emergencies from Darfur to the latest civil war in Sudan and how technology supports UNICEF's work of helping children and women in need.
• How we built a digital platform for climate action in India 03.11.2024 3мин

  Gibson Riungu, UNICEF ICT officer in India, tells us how his past experiences in emergency contexts has helped him develop the Meri LiFE platform. An initiative to help young people get involved in volunteer work that has now reached more than 25 million people!
• Supporting Gaza: Humanitarian Work in Crisis 01.10.2024 3мин

  Nasri Sidawi, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, shares his harrowing experiences working for UNICEF in Gaza. Amidst frequent wars and emergencies, he highlights the dire conditions children face, including hunger and lack of basic necessities. Despite the destruction and restricted movement, Sidawi and his team strive to support the children and adapt to the ever-changing, challenging environment.
• FunDoo: interactive learning in your palm 03.09.2024 2мин

  Ali Danish from India tells us about FunDoo, an innovative learning platform developed by UNICEF. Launched in 2021, it aims to equip young people with essential skills through experiential learning. The platform offers low-bandwidth, bite-sized, self-paced content accessible via popular messaging apps. FunDoo also includes gamified elements and incentives like certificates and badges to make learning engaging.
• Personalized education in Nigeria with the Learning Passport 06.08.2024 3мин

  Jutaro Sakamoto shares his journey in delivering accessible education to over 2 million Nigerian children through the Learning Passport. This innovative platform, designed to bridge the learning poverty gap, offers online, mobile, and offline technology, facilitating high-quality, adaptable education across 41 countries.
• Bebbo in Tajikistan, parenting made easy 04.07.2024 3мин

  Kouysinoy Maksoudova tells us about her work for UNICEF in Tajikistan and how digital technologies are helping parents in the early stages of parenthood.