UNICEF India Launches First-Ever Child Protection Innovation Fund to Safeguard Children
SDG 1: No Poverty | SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of Women & Child Development
UNICEF India has launched the Child Protection Innovation Fund (CPIF) — the country’s first fund dedicated to funding tech-driven solutions that protect children across multiple domains. It is aimed at incubating scalable and ethical digital tools across four priority areas: strengthening child protection workforce, improving access to social protection, adolescent girls’ support, and promoting online safety.
After a call for entries in May 2025 from UNICEF intervention states, three finalists — SponsorSmart, BalMitrabot, SurakshyaNet — were selected. A jury from organisations like CIFF, Bosch Global and UN Vienna chose SponsorSmart, a WhatsApp-based child sponsorship platform, to receive a USD 50,000 grant for piloting in three Assam districts. SponsorSmart streamlines application processes (reducing office visits), prioritises vulnerable children transparently, and integrates with child protection workflows — potentially benefiting over 35,000 children in Assam.
By channeling funding into innovation in child protection systems, this initiative can accelerate digitisation of welfare, enhance targeting efficiency, and foster collaborations across government, civil society and tech sectors in India.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can government and state child protection agencies integrate pilots like SponsorSmart into their systems, ensure funding continuity, and scale them while safeguarding data and equity?
Follow the full news here: https://www.unicef.org/india/press-releases/unicef-india-launches-first-ever-innovation-fund-protect-children