Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) launches its 13th Annual Photos and Videos Contest 2018. The contest seeks striking photographs and short videos that tell the story of how financial services empower poor people and communities in Africa. The grand winner receives a US$ 2,000 gift certificate for photography or video equipment. The 2018 CGAP Photo Contest is open to all photographers and videographers. Photographs and short videos have to be submitted by 14 December 2018. Share your stories
awards/prizes
TWIGA — Hackathon for Environmental Sensors
TWIGA is a 4-year project under EU Horizon2020 aimed to transform weather water data into value-added information services. To foster involvement by young scientists and entrepreneurs, TWIGA will organize five hackathons to develop solutions for the agriculture, water, energy, disaster response and risk management sector. The first call is open to teams from Ghana. Similar hackathons will be organized in other parts of Africa later. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will receive €1500, €1000, and €500. Applications should be submitted by 30 September 2018. Participate in the TWIGA Hackathon
Euromena Consulting — Awards for MENA Start-ups
Euromena Consulting launches the Euromena Awards – MENA Edition. The awards are intended for companies or innovative projects with social, economic, environmental and/or societal impact. Proposed projects should be related to MENA and/or be established in the region. The three winners will receive coaching and support for 6 months and the 1st place startup receives a €10 thousand financial reward. Applications must be sent before 29 October 2018. Find out more
Global Social Venture Competition — Competition 2019
The Global Social Venture Competition (GSVC) is a partnership of business schools in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with mentoring, exposure, and funding to support their social ventures. Past winners include plans for water supply, energy, micro-credit, agricultural technology, ecological building materials, and other environmental themes. The GSVC will award cash prizes up to US$40 thousand. The deadline for the first entry round in all regions is 03 December 2018. Find the competition
Africa Innovates for the SDGs — Award for African Social Innovators
Africa Innovates for the SDGs invites applications from early-stage social innovators in Africa who are solving pressing problems and key challenges linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. Selected innovators will receive funding to develop and scale their innovations to become financially sustainable. Applicants must be a citizen of any African country or a resident in any African countries. The deadline for applications is 07 September 2018. Find the guidelines
Tata Group — Tata Social Enterprise Challenge, 7th Edition
The Tata Group, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC), seeks to identify promising social enterprises in India. Proposals are invited for social enterprises in agriculture, water and sanitation, energy, and other thematic areas. The proposed enterprises should create social impact in India, although applicants do not have to be Indian nationals. The top three winners of the competition will win cash grants up to 2 lakhs each, to be invested in their ventures. Selected social entrepreneurs will be offered mentorship and an opportunity to be incubated at IIMC. The deadline for submitting impact proposals (business plans) is 30 September 2018. Link
The Commonwealth — Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2019
The Commonwealth awards exceptional young people, including entrepreneurs, inventors, environmentalists, women’s rights advocates, and others, who are making a difference in their communities. Entrants must be aged 15 to 29 years and can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. This year’s finalists will receive a trophy, a certificate and cash grants to help them continue their development work. All finalists will be awarded £1,000. Each selected regional winner will receive an additional £2,000, and the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will also receive an additional cash grant of £2,000. Entries must be received by 31 October 2018. About the award
Disaster Risk Reduction Network of Africa Journalists — DIRAJ Media Awards
DIRAJ invites applications from journalists located in Africa and the Arab States for the first Media Awards on disaster risk prevention, reduction and recovery. This award is open for accredited Journalists working in television, radio, print media and verified news websites. Winners will receive a cash award and mentorship. Stories (in English/ French only) must be submitted by 01 October 2018. Find out more
Siemens Stiftung — Empowering People Award 2019
Siemens Stiftung sponsors the “empowering people. Award” as a means to identify and showcase relatively simple and smart technological solutions that have business potential to combat poverty in developing and emerging countries. The categories include water and waste water; energy; food and agriculture; waste management; and several others. The products or solutions to be submitted have to already be in use. The competition is open to any individual, team, organization, or enterprise from any region in the world. The top three prizes are €50 thousand, €30 thousand, and €20 thousand, respectively. The contest offers 7 additional awards of €10 thousand each. The deadline for submissions is 31 October 2018. Find the Award
International Finance Corporation — Contest for Youth Engagement in Energy, Water & Transport
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and International Youth Foundation (IYF) invite applications for a contest for Youth Engagement in Energy, Water & Transport. The contest aims to inspire and create a dialogue on innovative ways to engage young people in natural resource industries while addressing some of the problems and needs of communities and companies. Youth between the ages of 15 and 30 are invited to submit content around core themes of energy, water, and transport. The competition is open to nationals of all countries. The deadline for submissions is 06 August 2018. Find the Contest for Youth Engagement