Call for Applications: UNICEF Blue Unicorn Farm to Bridge Global Learning Gaps (Up to $150,000 Funding)

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Applications are open for UNICEF Blue Unicorn Farm. The UNICEF Global Learning Innovation Hub has announced a groundbreaking portfolio initiative called the “Blue Unicorn Farm,” which seeks innovative EdTech solutions to address the global learning crisis.

With up to $150,000 in funding available for selected EdTech tools, the portfolio, launched in June 2024, aims to fund and support cutting-edge educational technologies that can transform learning outcomes for millions of children worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings.

The first cohort of Blue Unicorn Farm portfolio investments target five critical areas: foundational literacy and numeracy, school readiness, inclusion of children with disabilities, teacher empowerment, and future skills development. The portfolio comes in response to alarming statistics, which show that 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple text.

“We are seeking visionary, inclusive evidence-based EdTech tools with the potential to improve learning outcomes for millions of children worldwide,” said Frank van Cappelle, UNICEF Senior Adviser on Digital Learning and Head of the UNICEF Learning Innovation Hub in Helsinki, Finland. Selected EdTech innovators will receive funding support, mentorship, technical assistance, visibility, engagement with local ecosystems, and a path to scale.

Eligibility Criteria for Blue Unicorn Farm initiative

Eligible applicants for the Blue Unicorn Farm initiative include technology companies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations with evidence-backed EdTech tools.
Additionally, selected tools will be showcased on the Learning Cabinet, a global platform for innovative EdTech tools, and will engage with local ecosystems for market insights and collaboration.

Evaluation Criteria for Blue Unicorn Farm initiative

Solutions will be evaluated based on their potential to impact over 100 million children, grounding in the science of learning, proven evidence of positive outcomes, secure data management, adaptability to low-resource contexts, and overall affordability and innovation. To this end, the Learning Innovation Hub, alongside with partners such as the Asian Development Bank, ARM, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, and others, have developed a stringent methodology to assess EdTech tools, called the EdTech for Good Framework. The program is particularly interested in solutions that employ innovative approaches such as personalized and adaptive learning, formative assessment, and immersive learning experiences.

The first call for the Blue Unicorn Farm closed in June, 2024, but there is an ongoing open call for EdTech tools to be assessed through the EdTech for Good Framework. Tools that pass the screening will be placed in the upcoming Learning Cabinet online platform and will also be on the longlist for any upcoming calls for the Blue Unicorn Farm Portfolio.