Program Recap
UN Impact Sprint 2026
Seven sessions. Five capstone projects. One panel of former United Nations leaders. Students designed evidence-based solutions to global challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals - and pitched them to UN experts.
About the UN Impact Sprint
The Purpose
The UN Impact Sprint 2026 challenged high school and university students to identify a pressing global issue aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and design a practical, evidence-based solution to it. Over seven sessions, students explored the humanitarian-development-peace nexus through real-world case studies and studied how technologies such as blockchain, satellite mapping, artificial intelligence, and digital identity systems are reshaping humanitarian response.
The Student Experience
Students were asked for more than a research paper. Each capstone required a clearly defined global challenge, evidence behind the diagnosis, an innovative solution, explicit alignment to specific SDGs, and a practical implementation path. Students presented early concepts to UN mentors, revised, and presented again - building research, critical thinking, design thinking, and presentation skills at every stage.
The Outcome
The program closed with a final showcase, where students presented completed capstone projects to a panel of UN experts and answered live questions on their work. Five capstone projects came out of the Sprint, addressing goals that span hunger, health, education, clean water, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities, responsible consumption, climate action, peace and justice, and partnerships.
Meet the Mentors
Advit Nath
Two Rounds of Expert Review
Ruby Sandhu-Rojon
Former Controller and Director at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and a global expert in blockchain, finance, and development technology.
Ruby Sandhu-Rojon
Two Rounds of Expert Review
Ruby Sandhu-Rojon
Former UN Resident Coordinator with senior leadership experience across UNDP, UN Women, and UN peace operations.
Two Rounds of Expert Review
Two Rounds of Expert Review
Two Rounds of Expert Review
Students met their mentors in Session 1, brought early concepts for critique in Session 3, and returned with polished presentations in Session 6 - so the hardest questions came before the showcase, not during it.
Inside the Seven Sessions
Session 1: Real-World Problem Solving & UN Basics
Session 2: Capstone Ideation & Project Development
Session 2: Capstone Ideation & Project Development
The principles of humanitarian assistance, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus - plus how blockchain, satellite mapping, artificial intelligence, and digital identity systems are transforming humanitarian response.
Session 2: Capstone Ideation & Project Development
Session 2: Capstone Ideation & Project Development
Session 2: Capstone Ideation & Project Development
Students identified the global challenges they cared most about, selected relevant SDGs and targets, defined a real-world problem, conducted initial research, and developed early solution concepts.
Session 3: Expert Project Feedback
Session 2: Capstone Ideation & Project Development
Session 4: Presentation Skills & Storytelling
Students presented early project concepts to Advit Nath and Ruby Sandhu-Rojon and received personalized feedback on problem selection, feasibility, innovation, SDG alignment, and practical implementation strategy.
Session 4: Presentation Skills & Storytelling
Session 5: Finalizing & Polishing Capstone Projects
Session 4: Presentation Skills & Storytelling
How to communicate complex ideas: structuring persuasive presentations, storytelling technique, visual communication, and public speaking - delivering solutions with confidence and clarity.
Session 5: Finalizing & Polishing Capstone Projects
Session 5: Finalizing & Polishing Capstone Projects
Session 5: Finalizing & Polishing Capstone Projects
Students refined their presentations using critical thinking and design thinking frameworks: evidence-based reasoning, human-centered design, solution validation, and pilot implementation strategy.
Session 6: Final Expert Review
Session 5: Finalizing & Polishing Capstone Projects
Session 5: Finalizing & Polishing Capstone Projects
Mentors challenged students to strengthen practical implementation, long-term sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and potential real-world impact - the last chance to refine before the showcase.
Session 7: Final Capstone Showcase
Session 7: Final Capstone Showcase
Session 7: Final Capstone Showcase
Students presented completed capstone projects to a panel of UN experts and took live questions - showcasing their research and creativity alongside their ability to defend an idea in real time.
The Five Capstone Projects
Grain-Grid: Blockchain Accountability for Food Aid
Grain-Grid: Blockchain Accountability for Food Aid
Grain-Grid: Blockchain Accountability for Food Aid
A blockchain-based tracking system that records every stage of food aid distribution, from donor commitment to final delivery. Built on IFAD's existing TRACE platform with smart contracts, SMS verification, and public dashboards to cut diversion in conflict zones and keep donors funding the pipeline. SDG 2, 16 and 17.
Community Water Kiosks in Kibera
Grain-Grid: Blockchain Accountability for Food Aid
Grain-Grid: Blockchain Accountability for Food Aid
A micro-finance mini-grant programme funding resident-managed water kiosks in one of the world's largest informal settlements - incremental, community-run improvements that deliver safe drinking water now while creating local economic opportunity and advancing gender equality. SDG 6 and 11.
NextPlay: Equal Opportunity Through Sport
Grain-Grid: Blockchain Accountability for Food Aid
NextPlay: Equal Opportunity Through Sport
A no-cost digital platform connecting underserved youth to affordable programs, donated equipment, scholarships, mentorship, and coaching - bringing athletes, coaches, donors, and community organizations onto one platform so opportunity follows talent rather than family finances. SDG 3, 4 and 10.
Reducing AI's Water Consumption
Emergency Healthcare in Conflict and Disaster Zones
NextPlay: Equal Opportunity Through Sport
A three-phase strategy for the freshwater consumed by the data centers that train AI models: water-aware workload scheduling, expanded recycled water infrastructure, and next-generation cooling technologies - changes an operator could realistically adopt. SDG 6, 9, 12 and 13.
Emergency Healthcare in Conflict and Disaster Zones
Emergency Healthcare in Conflict and Disaster Zones
Emergency Healthcare in Conflict and Disaster Zones
Mobile health units paired with mobile phone-based surgical telemedicine, so healthcare workers can deliver emergency and primary care where infrastructure, supply chains, and staffing have broken down - continuity through a crisis, not just surge response during one. SDG 3.
Program Outcomes
What students took away
By the conclusion of the UN Impact Sprint, students had developed a deeper understanding of global humanitarian and development challenges, applied critical thinking and design thinking to real-world issues, conducted research grounded in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, designed innovative and evidence-based solutions to complex global problems, and presented their ideas to experienced UN professionals with individualized feedback at every stage. The Sprint empowered students to think beyond the classroom and explore how innovation, policy, technology, and leadership can contribute to meaningful global impact - and gave them the experience of defending an idea to someone who has implemented policy at scale, revising it, and defending it again.
What You'll Gain
Certificate Signed by Top UN Leaders
Certificate Signed by Top UN Leaders
Certificate Signed by Top UN Leaders
Receive a prestigious certificate signed by top UN leaders.
Coveted Recommendation Letter
Certificate Signed by Top UN Leaders
Certificate Signed by Top UN Leaders
Stand out with a personalized recommendation letter from the Chair of the Project Decision-Making Committee.
UN-Level Mentorship
Certificate Signed by Top UN Leaders
Master the Skills That Matter
Personalized guidance from senior UN experts with extensive international experience, in two dedicated rounds of expert review.
Master the Skills That Matter
Master the Skills That Matter
Master the Skills That Matter
A rock-solid foundation in critical thinking, cost-benefit analysis, real-world policymaking, storytelling, and communication.
A Real Capstone, Not a Paper
Master the Skills That Matter
A Real Capstone, Not a Paper
Every student leaves with a defined global problem, evidence behind the diagnosis, an innovative solution, explicit SDG alignment, and a practical implementation path.
Presentation to a UN Panel
Master the Skills That Matter
A Real Capstone, Not a Paper
The program culminates in a showcase before a panel of UN experts, with live questions and direct feedback on your work.
Hear From Past Participants
Student A
Student A
Student A
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I had to learn and collaborate with the UN officials and my peers. The capstone project, in particular, was a highlight for me - a chance to apply everything we learned in a hands-on way. I learned so much about effective project management, from initial brainstorming to refining a final presentation."
Student K
Student A
Student A
"The program gave me a deeper understanding of pressing global issues and how to tackle them with practical, actionable strategies. The discussions with UN officials were a highlight - they provided real-world context to the concepts we were studying. I now feel much more confident in my ability to turn passion into purpose."
Explore More
Read the Student Stories
Ready to Lead Global Change?
Read the Student Stories
Meet the students who pitched solutions to former UN leaders - a project-by-project walk through the five capstones and the goals they addressed.
Explore LIL Programs
Ready to Lead Global Change?
Read the Student Stories
The UN Impact Sprint is one of several Leadership & Innovation Lab programs. See the full range of entrepreneurship, research, and leadership tracks open to students.
Ready to Lead Global Change?
Ready to Lead Global Change?
Ready to Lead Global Change?
Applications are open for upcoming Leadership & Innovation Lab programs. Bring a problem you care about, and leave with a solution you have defended in front of people who have done the work.