This project will support seven SPECA countries in their efforts to spur innovation as a central driver of the increasingly urgent transition from a low productivity and resource-intensive model of economic development to knowledge-based and more sustainable economic growth, in line with the SDGs. It builds on a clear mandate: SPECA countries, recognizing this challenge, formally decided at the 12th session of the SPECA Governing Council in 2017 to “Develop an innovation strategy to promote sustainable development in the SPECA region” – a process that, with UNECE and ESCAP support, has led to a final draft that will be submitted for approval at the 2019 SPECA governing council. In this context, the project aims to support and create sustainable further momentum around the first steps towards putting this strategy into practice. Specifically, the objective is to strengthen institutional capacities to harness innovation as a driver of sustainable development and regional integration. The first outcome is strengthened co-operation on innovation among SPECA countries. Central to this outcome is to work with SPECA countries to put together a concrete first action plan under the strategy, including several joint initiatives. This involves a detailed gap analysis covering all seven countries to inform the development of the draft action plan, which will be discussed in detail at a sub-regional workshop before finalization and submission for approval. Towards the end of the implementation period, a sub-regional workshop will serve to measure implementation progress based on the indicators in the action plan. The second outcome on enhanced capacity to design and carry out effective innovation policy and institutional reform, aims to address some of the leading constraints in putting the strategy into practice among SPECA countries. This involves both a series of sub-regional seminars on selected issues of common concern, as well as in-depth trainings for at least three countries. Importantly, this proposal foresees substantial flexibility to respond to country requests and priorities and to build on existing or impending momentum. ESCAP, as the co-lead in providing Secretariat support to the SPECA Working Group on Knowledge-Based Development, will play a role in or lead on most activities. In addition, several UN organizations will be involved, in part through the Inter-Agency Task Team on Science, Technology and Innovation. The donor community will be engaged throughout, with the clear purpose of finding projects that contribute to the strategy and the action plan that qualify for donor funding – sustaining the momentum beyond the closure of this project.