Innovation and Technology for Development 

At Save the Children, Technology for Development is about using digital innovation to improve outcomes for children. We apply technology to strengthen programmes, improve decision-making, expand access to essential services and enable more effective humanitarian and development responses.

Our principles

• Child-centred innovation – Technology is designed to address real challenges facing children and communities.

• Responsible and inclusive – Solutions are ethical, accessible and developed with safeguarding and equity at their core.

• Scalable and sustainable – We build solutions that can be integrated into government systems and scaled through partnerships.

• Evidence-driven – We use data, research and continuous learning to understand what works and improve impact.

Innovation in Practice

National Education Intelligence: Co-developing a national Anticipatory Action Intelligence System with the Ministry of Education, integrating climate, education and risk data with existing government platforms such as NEMIS and KEMIS to support evidence-based decisions before crises affect learning.

AI for Child Protection: Exploring AI-enabled decision support within CPIMS to strengthen child protection case management, identify emerging risks and support frontline decision-making.

Connected Digital Learning: Establishing digital learning hubs, improving connectivity and strengthening teachers' digital skills to expand access to quality education.

AI for Organisational Transformation: Applying AI to strengthen programme design, knowledge management, business processes and operational efficiency, enabling staff to spend more time delivering impact for children.

Save the Children’s Global Ventures Initiative – Nandi, Kenya
In Kenya, 98% of agriculture is rain-fed. Erratic weather patterns severely impact children, triggering rising food insecurity, vector-borne diseases and disrupted education.
To break this cycle, Save the Children Kenya and our partners Global Ventures Initiative are using international carbon markets to build climate resilience and reduce child malnutrition.
 

The Challenge in Nandi County: 
In rural Nandi, 75% of families rely on rain-fed crops like tea, coffee, sugarcane and maize. Shifting seasons, erratic temperatures and pests cut farm yields, while smallholders lack the tools and training to adapt.
 

Innovative Approach
Like results-based financing, carbon markets fund verified outcomes such as growing trees that absorb atmospheric carbon.
Save the Children is taking this further by channelling carbon revenue directly into child-focused community development.
•    Funding: $5 million over 15 years.
•    Partnership: Funded by nine leading UK law firms in the Legal Charter 1.5 alliance.
•    Historic Milestone: The first-time legal sector leaders have jointly funded a carbon offset initiative dedicated on children.

Project Objectives & Summary

This 15-year initiative builds long-term resilience for tea-farming families in Nandi County by lowering poverty and malnutrition while promoting youth and gender-inclusive land stewardship.
Key Objectives:
•    Expand Agroforestry: Train local Self-Help Groups and farmers to grow and manage trees.
•    Boost Incomes & Resilience: Increase farm productivity and household income through sustainable land practices.
•    Improve Child Nutrition: Reduce acute malnutrition and support healthy child growth.
•    Sustainable Financing: Sell carbon credits to fund long-term community development.
 

Action on the Ground:
•    Plant 2 Million Trees: Reforesting public lands and smallholder farms using native and fruit species aligned with county plans.
•    Train 10,000 Farmers: Partnering with tea cooperatives to engage and train farmers in climate sensitive, sustainable land-management practices and to supply seedlings for woodlots, orchards and farm borders
•    Lasting Economic Impact: Improving food security and livelihoods through crop diversification, storage infrastructure, market links and child safeguarding.