The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) invites children and young people from Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to take part in the 2024 Youth Innovation Contest. Participants can submit creative works that reflect their vision of a more sustainable planet, using any format (painting, story, poem, or a research essay). The contest is open to two age groups: Children’s Group (5-10 years old) and Youth Group (11-17 years old). Participants are encouraged to create works focusing on the Protection of Marine Ecosystems, Conservation of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Responding to Global Climate Change, and Building Sustainable Human Settlements. The deadline for application is 30 September 2024. More
awards/prizes
Nigeria Energy Forum — Africa Energy Innovation Competition 2024
NEF invites applications for the Africa Energy Ideas Competition which aims to accelerate the development of early-stage energy firms across Africa. The competition is open to early-stage energy entrepreneurs from Africa to collaborate with local research institutions or industries. Young professionals between the ages of 18 and 35 years from Africa are invited to participate and nominate a relevant local research institution or organization. Winners will pitch their proposed prototype model at the 2024 Nigeria Energy Forum, in Lagos (Nigeria) and a cash prize of up to $10 thousand. The deadline for proposal submission is 30 September 2024. Click here
Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation — Youth Actions Challenge
The 1 Million Youth Actions Challenge supports youth-led initiatives related to clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption and production, climate action & biodiversity. Youth between 15 and 24 years from all around the world are invited to submit their solutions and projects. Selected projects will receive financial support up to C$5 thousand each and technical support. The call is open until 05 November 2024. Youth Actions Challenge
Garden Club of America — Awards in Tropical Botany and Horticulture
The Garden Club of America (GCA) offers several grants, prizes, and fellowships for students enrolled at universities in the USA, including some awards that have a tropical focus. The GCA Awards in Tropical Botany are open to PhD candidates (application deadline is 15 January); the Loy McCandless Marks Scholarship in Tropical Horticulture is restricted to U.S. citizens who are graduate students or advanced undergraduate students (deadline is 15 January). The Anne Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany is open to PhD students and recent PhD graduates (deadline is 31 January). Applicants should review all programs, criteria, and deadlines. Botany and Horticulture Scholarships
Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry — Photo Competition
The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) seek photographs that highlight the role of forests and trees in protecting the planet’s biodiversity. Entries can show trees in forests, on farms, in landscapes or any subject that depicts why trees matter to all forms of life on Earth. Participants can win up to US$500 and have their work displayed on CIFOR-ICRAF’s digital platforms. The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers from around the world. Entries must be submitted by 14 October 2024. Trees and Life Photo Competition
Global Solutions Initiative — Recoupling Awards
The “Young Global Changers Recoupling Awards” aim to reward young changemakers from all over the world who contribute actively towards a better alignment of economic prosperity with environmental sustainability. The award seeks to recognize impactful youth-led projects and initiatives that drive change on the ground. Projects can be social enterprises as well as youth-led nonprofit initiatives. The application deadline is 31 October 2024. Young Global Changers Recoupling Awards
Conrad Foundation — Spirit of Innovation Challenge 2024-2025
The Spirit of Innovation Challenge is a worldwide competition for youth ages 13-18 to create commercially viable products or services to address issues of global sustainability. Categories include “Energy and Environment”. Ideas are submitted by student teams, which can be international, if desired. There is a fee for team registration (discounted rates may apply for qualified title one schools or special circumstances). The winning teams are offered seed money to continue the development of their ideas. The application deadline for the activation stage (phase 1) is 01 November 2024. Link to the challenge
Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation — Environmental Photography Award
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (PA2F) Environmental Photography Award aims to reward photographers who put their creativity to good use in raising awareness on environmental protection. Photographers are invited to reflect on our relationship towards nature and the interrelation between human health and planetary health. Images can be entered in 5 categories: Polar Wonders, Beneath the Canopy, Life under the Surface, Humanity versus Nature, and Towards a Sustainable Future. The grand prize winner receives €5 thousand, each category winner receives €1 thousand. The closing date for entries is 03 November 2024. Environmental Photography Award
Earth Prize — Student Environmental Projects
The Earth Prize is an annual, global environmental sustainability competition for students between the ages of 13 and 19. The Earth Prize will reward seven regional winners, each receiving $12,500 to implement their ideas. The regions are Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, and Central & South America. Additionally, The Earth Prize will recognize three mentors and three educators of the year, awarding each $2,500. The registration phase closes on 30 November 2024. Earth Prize
iF International Forum Design GmbH — Student Design Award
The iF Student Design Award recognizes students and their future-oriented concepts that aim to solve a global development challenge. The best concepts earn a share of €50 thousand. All winners will be honored with a two-day event in Istanbul. Students and recent graduates of all design-related courses and programs are welcome to register their concepts. The registration deadline for participation is 05 February 2025. iF Student Design Award