UniPod Labs: UNDP and MTHE Transform Universities into Hubs for Change

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) have strengthened their partnership to scale the University Innovation Pod (UniPod) initiative, aimed at equipping Sierra Leonean students with practical skills to tackle national challenges.

The agreement was highlighted during a high-level visit to the facility by Fredrick Ampiah, UNDP Resident Representative, and Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education. The initiative seeks to turn universities into hubs where students can develop market-ready solutions.

“The UniPod is essential for providing practical skills and fostering youth-led entrepreneurship required for national growth,” the delegation noted.

The program forms part of the broader UNDP Timbuktoo project, a pan-African startup ecosystem. In Sierra Leone, UniPod focuses on scaling homegrown technologies, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating dignified jobs by transitioning graduates from job seekers into job creators.

Minister Wurie emphasized that the facility provides hands-on, practical training often missing in standard curricula, ensuring that university research contributes directly to economic growth. UNDP added that the collaboration reinforces efforts to create inclusive pathways for young Sierra Leoneans to gain expertise and drive innovation.