This platform showcases existing development solutions mapped by the UNDP Accelerator Labs. They may either be documented as notes of solutions already available online or identified during the Labs’ ethnographic on-the-ground research.

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Adaptive Urban Futures
Syria
In crisis-affected environments, the Accelerator Labs have focused on urban resilience by addressing the interconnected challenges of waste management, informal housing, and human mobility. These urban systems are often the first to collapse during crises—be it conflict, economic breakdown, or natural disasters—yet they are also critical lifelines for displaced populations and overstretched local communities. R&D efforts in these contexts prioritize low-cost, decentralized, and community-driven innovations that can function without formal infrastructure. Waste is reimagined not just as a challenge, but as an economic opportunity. Informal housing is approached through participatory design and spatial mapping, while mobility challenges are tackled using real-time data and local knowledge systems. These initiatives underscore the Labs’ commitment to helping cities adapt and function in the absence of formal governance and amid persistent shocks.

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