Advancing Child-Centered AI: Practitioners and Partnerships
This event took place at UNICEF HQ, New York City, on Wednesday, 18 June 2025.
ABOUT THIS EVENT
As part of the Development Data Partnership (DDP) annual meeting and in alignment with the UN’s Year of AI, UNICEF’s Frontier Data Network is hosting a high-level, forward-looking event to spotlight AI’s potential in driving progress for children and societies. This event is part of the Frontier Data Network’s efforts to create and empower new communities of practice needed to build meaningful partnerships and ensure that emerging solutions make the greatest impact for children.
AI is transforming the world, but ensuring it also works for the most vulnerable, addressing the biggest challenges for children and responding to children’s needs and the systems that protect them, remains an open challenge. No single actor can achieve this alone. This gathering will highlight opportunities and challenges for new collaboration between humanitarian/development communities and tech innovators in unlocking responsible AI for critical areas including emergency preparedness, climate resilience, and child protection.
THE CHALLENGE WE’RE ADDRESSING
This event brings together leaders from the UN system, national governments, researchers, and the private sector to explore the essential role of AI, data, and partnerships in shaping a future where technology works for the most vulnerable, especially children. We will examine the transformation already underway and key needs for AI-driven children-centric action, including the new role that partnerships, collaborations, and diverse talent are taking to guide AI design, development, and deployment.
WATCH THE RECORDING
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Welcoming and Introduction
Vidhya Ganesh
Director, Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM), UNICEF
Moderator
Tanya Accone
Senior Advisor on Innovation, Office of Innovation, UNICEF
Ana Jiménez de la Hoz
Deputy Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations
Katherine Macdonald
Senior Director, Ookla for Good & Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Merav Ozair
Leading Expert on Emerging Technologies and Responsible Innovation
Mehdi Snene
AI and Digital Transformation Senior Advisor, Digital and Emerging Technologies, United Nations
Stefaan Verhulst
Co-founder & Chief of Research & Development, The GovLab at New York University
EVENT OBJECTIVES
Reflect on Organizational Transformation
How can organizations like UN agencies transform to make AI meaningful for the most vulnerable? What new partnerships and capabilities do we need for responsible AI development that puts children’s needs at the center and results in lasting capacity building?
Showcase Real-World Examples
Inspire with examples of successful AI collaborations for social good, highlighting communities of practice, talent exchange, and co-creation models that work.
Foster Cross-Sector Dialogue
Bring together policymakers, technologists, and development practitioners to strengthen meaningful partnerships and advance frontier data innovations for the most vulnerable.
A UNICEF Frontier Data Network event produced in coordination with the Development Data Partnership
