OpenIDEO convenes a global community to collaboratively create solutions addressing the world’s biggest challenges. Among these challenges is the Youth Empowerment Challenge for East Africa, which aims to empower young people in East Africa to participate in the economy. OpenIDEO invites new ideas that motivate and inspire youth; build skills; support their transition into financial stability; include the private sector; or harness the potential for the participation of young people in agriculture. The Challenge is looking for ideas that answer its challenge question and that are targeted at youth between ages 18-35 in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. At least five winners of this challenge will receive a grant of between US$50 thousand and US$150 thousand, plus training and design support from IDEO. The challenge is open to all creative thinkers worldwide, and in any discipline. The deadline for submissions in the ideas phase is 31 October 2016. Link
awards/prizes
Global Social Venture Competition — Competition 2017
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 processing, ecological building materials, and other environmental themes. The GSVC will award cash prizes up to US$25 thousand. The deadline for the first entry round in most regions is 05 December 2016. Link
MIT Center for Collective Intelligence — Climate CoLab
The MIT Climate CoLab organizes contests to invite the best ideas from around the world to prevent and adapt to climate change. A recently launched contest (“Anticipating Climate Hazards”) calls for ideas on how vulnerable communities can best prepare for climate-related hazards, and for new tools that can be used to incentivize early action. The Judges’ Choice Winner will receive an expenses-paid trip to present its winning proposal to the A2R Leadership Group of key global actors in building climate resilience. The contest deadline is 10 February 2017. Link
Peace Direct — Awards for Environmental Peace Building
The program Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders makes awards to recognize the achievements of grassroots peace activists. The categories for the awards include one for environmental peacebuilding. Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders will offer US$10 thousand to the winning organization in each category, plus promotional opportunities. There is no geographical restriction on applications. Applicants for the awards should be local independent organizations. Peace Direct prefers applications submitted in English, but it will also accept applications in French and Spanish. The deadline for applications is 10 October 2016. Link
World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) — Young Scientist National Awards in Africa 2016
The AU-TWAS Young Scientist National Awards are co-sponsored by TWAS and the African Union. Monetary prizes of US$2 thousand are offered to young (not over age 40) African scientists in each of two categories: life and earth sciences; and basic sciences, technology, and innovation. Participating countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, and Zimbabwe. Nominations of women scientists are particularly encouraged. The closing date for nominations is 21 November 2016. Link
Energy and Environment Partnership for Southern and East Africa — Project of the Year 2016
The EEP will make an award for “EEP Project of the Year 2016.” Nominations are invited from current or previously completed EEP S&EA projects. EEP will fund travel, accommodation, and associated costs for one representative of the winning project to present at the African Utility Week / Clean Power Africa in Cape Town (May 2017). The deadline for nominations is 15 September 2016. Link
Human Development Innovation Fund — Mawazo Challenge in Tanzania
The Human Development Innovation Fund (HDIF) is funded by the UK government to create social impact in education, health and water, and sanitation and hygiene (WASH) across Tanzania. The Mawazo Challenge invites ideas to design a competition or award scheme that will foster and support promising ideas to solve problems in these areas. The best three ideas will be awarded cash prizes, including five million Tanzanian shillings for the first prize. The application deadline (first stage) is 15 August 2016. Link
Center for International Forestry Research — Asia-Pacific Rainforest Photo Competition
The Asia-Pacific Rainforest Photo Competition seeks photographs that highlight the value of rainforests in the Asia-Pacific region. These can include photos of rainforests and forest landscapes; the communities who live in and around forests; forest products for trade, health or nutrition; diverse plants and animals that highlight the region’s rich biodiversity; or anything else that expresses why rainforests matter. Cash prizes of US$500 to US$1,000 will be awarded. The competition is open to everyone — professionals and hobby photographers. The submission deadline is 24 July 2016. Link
Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation — STEM Prize for Young Africans
The STEM Prize aims to encourage young Cameroonians and other Africans, especially girls and young women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Applications are invited from teams of three to five persons who submit a project that has the greatest potential to positively improve their communities. Applicants must be between the ages of 13 and 21 and be citizens in one of the following countries: Cameroon, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, or Gabon. The top teams will be invited to the foundation’s headquarters in Yaoundé to participate in a 3-day workshop focusing on research, career guidance, and project implementation. Cash prizes will be awarded totaling 5 million FCFA (approximately US$10 thousand). The deadline for applications (English, French) is 31 July 2016. Link
Green Cross International — Green Cross Awards 2017
In collaboration with the United Nations, Green Cross International makes the Green Star Awards to recognize individuals and organizations that have made remarkable efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to environmental emergencies – as well as to integrate environment with humanitarian action across the world. The 2017 edition of the Green Star Awards will be presented in June 2017 in Nairobi. There is no cash award, but travel expenses to receive the award will be covered. The deadline for nominations (English, French) is 30 January 2017. Link