UNDP Philippines launches Accelerator Lab to “future proof” development progress with support of Germany and Qatar

October 29, 2019

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner at the launch of the Accelerator Labs in New York, along with core investors Maria Flachsbarth of Germany & Khalifa Bin Jassim Al-Kuwari of Qatar.

Manila, Philippines- Launched by UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner, at UN Headquarters in July 2019, a worldwide network of 60 Accelerator Labs has been established by UNDP, with the support from the governments of Germany and Qatar, to test and scale new solutions to global challenges like climate change and rapidly rising inequality.

The 60 country Accelerator Labs “…will become the world’s largest and fastest learning network on development challenges…pioneering an approach to development that accelerates our ability to make progress by building on grassroots solutions and creating portfolios of experiments to quickly learn about which solutions create impact and have the potential to scale,” said Mr. Steiner.

The Accelerator Lab aims to create solutions that are formed locally and shared globally. In the Philippines, initial issues the Accelerator Lab will focus on include identifying solutions to respond to the challenge of marine litter, exploring how to achieve more sustainable cities and targeting the eradication of extreme poverty.

We fully support the initiative of Accelerator Lab and believe that it can effectively contribute to finding solutions and approaches that accelerate progress towards meeting the sustainable development goals. We are looking forward to seeing how different portfolios of solutions will come out of this project that respond to the complex social and economic challenges of a middle-income country such as the Philippines,” said German Ambassador AnkeReiffenstuel.

Qatar's support for this innovative project through the Qatar Development Fund comes as that Qatar is key partner in the program, and it also comes as a confirmation of its endeavor to find new solutions to address the complexities of development challenges facing developing countries, within the framework of what the State of Qatar has been offering to achieve peace and stability for different peoples, especially if cooperation in this project takes place with a global organization such as the United Nations. Moreover, the project represents a beginning of greater cooperation and exchange of knowledge between countries”, said Qatar Ambassador to the Philippines, Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Malki.

Working closely with government partners and stakeholders across various sectors, The Accelerator Lab in the Philippines will offer support to solve complex development challenges by tapping into UNDP’s learning network.

“As the country continues to grow rapidly it faces complex, difficult challenges. An accelerated effort is needed to make progress towards achieving the country’s commitment to attain the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We are already building partnerships with government, civil society and the private sector who are keen to work with UNDP’s Accelerator Lab on innovative solutions” said Titon Mitra, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines.

The Labs are embedded in UNDP country teams and will become integral to UNDP‘s services to better assist countries in their national development plans and priorities.

 

For more information:

Email acceleratorlab.ph@undp.org