Mission and objectivesIstanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) supports the private sector and foundations to become transformative partners in development through research, advocacy for inclusive business, facilitation of public-private dialogue and brokering partnerships. IICPSD, established in 2011 in partnership with the Government of Turkey, is one of UNDP's six Global Policy Centres. It leads UNDPโs global work on private sector and foundations and supports UNDPโs offices all over the world. The Center focuses on four thematic areas: 1. Inclusive Business; 2. Private Sector Engagement in Skills Development; 3. Impact investing; 4. Resilience and Crisis Response. The Center also hosts four global initiatives: Business Call to Action, SDG Philanthropy Platform, Global Islamic Finance and Impact Investing Platform and Connecting Business Initiative.
ContextTech4R is a global initiative that mobilizes skilled tech volunteers to support disaster preparedness, response, and recovery through digital and open-source solutions. Recognizing the innovation and energy emerging from academic settings, Tech4R aims to strengthen collaboration with students who have already explored solutions in the disaster resilience space. Across universities worldwide, students have been prototyping apps, platforms, and systems that tackle real-world challengesโfrom early warning systems and data mapping tools to emergency response apps and climate risk dashboards. Many of these prototypes show great promise, but lack pathways for further development or real-world application. Through this call, Tech4R seeks to identify and collaborate with such student-led or academic-backed projects, offering a platform to amplify their work, connect them with experts, and explore opportunities for piloting or integrating them into broader disaster risk reduction efforts. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to foster innovation, empower emerging talent, and co-create scalable tech solutions for communities most at risk.
Task DescriptionTech4R is seeking talented developer students to collaborate on improving/co-developing projects for disaster resilience. Are you a student who has worked on a tech-based project aimed at disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, or emergency response? Do you want to see your ideas go further, make real-world impact, and connect with a global network of tech-for-good professionals? What Weโre Looking For: Student-led or university-supported prototypes, apps, platforms, or tools addressing disaster resilience, early warning systems, climate adaptation, or emergency coordination. Solutions that use open-source tools, AI/ML, data mapping, crowdsourcing, or mobile/web technologies. Projects that are past the idea stage and have some form of working demo or prototype. What will you be doing: Enhancing and refining prototypes - Improving the usability, design, and functionality of existing solutions based on expert feedback. Adapting projects for real-world use- tailoring the prototype for specific disaster contexts and local needs, including offline or low-bandwidth settings. Collaborating with Tech4R Volunteers - working alongside experienced developers, designers, and data experts in small collaborative teams. Testing and documenting the projects - conducting basic user testing, gathering feedback, and creating simple guides or documentation. Presenting and sharing the work - participating in Tech4R showcases, events, or webinars to highlight your project and its potential impact.
Competencies and values
Living conditions and remarks