Deadline: 10-Oct-2025
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund has announced a major intervention in Heliópolis, São Paulo, aimed at transforming the community into a hub of experimentation and social innovation.
With an investment of USD 25 million, the initiative “Territorial Innovation for the Well-Being of Children and Adolescents in Heliópolis” will empower children, adolescents, and young people to play a central role in addressing local challenges through creative and sustainable solutions.
The project is guided by UNICEF Brazil’s Innovation Strategy (2024–2028) and employs global methodologies such as the 5D Innovation Framework and the Sprint Lab approach, tailored to Heliópolis’ specific context. The intervention is structured around five interconnected result areas designed to deliver lasting social impact.
A key element of the initiative is the training and certification of Community Innovation Agents who will lead workshops, document learning, and strengthen monitoring and evaluation processes. Youth will also receive dedicated training in innovation, enabling them to develop, prototype, and test community-based solutions. Successful projects may receive seed funding to move from ideas to practical implementation.
Community leaders will be engaged in applying innovation methodologies through structured action plans and collaborations with youth groups, creating a dynamic living lab that strengthens local governance and evidence-based decision-making. To ensure long-term sustainability, a Heliópolis Community Innovation Committee will be established, bringing together diverse stakeholders to prioritize, monitor, and integrate solutions into public services and policies.
The program will also launch a Community Innovation Center (CIC) with a high-profile public event showcasing solutions, hosting technical panels, and encouraging new partnerships. This platform is expected to enhance visibility, build momentum, and promote collaboration across sectors.
By aligning local capacity, knowledge, and governance, this UNICEF-led initiative aims to convert grassroots efforts into scalable innovations with the potential to shape public policies. With its strategic design and cross-sectoral partnerships, the Heliópolis model could become a blueprint for sustainable urban transformation across Brazil and beyond.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.
