Ideas for Action is a knowledge platform of the World Bank Group and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the Wharton School. The annual Ideas for Action competition seeks innovative ideas and actionable projects to support the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Past winners include water solutions for better fish farm yields, women-led business models to improve sustainable access to energy, web based solutions for agriculture processes, and many more. Teams must consist of two to six members and may be formed across different schools, institutions, companies, or countries. Students and young professionals between the ages of 18-35 years from around the world are invited to participate. The winners of the competition present their ideas at the annual meeting of the World Bank Group, receive support from a project incubator and coaching. The deadline for submissions is 29 February 2020. Ideas for Action
marine/coastal
U.S. National Science Foundation — Geography and Spatial Sciences Program 2020
The NSF funds an annual competition for research on the geographic distributions and interactions of human, physical, and biotic systems on the Earth’s surface. Projects on a variety of topics U.S. and international (through subawards) qualify for support if they offer promise of enhancing geographical knowledge, concepts, theories, methods, and their application to societal problems and concerns. Past projects include several in the world’s developing countries related to environmental disasters, waste management, marine spatial planning, wildlife conservation, and others. The deadline for regular proposals is 03 September 2020. Link
Mostra Ecofalante de Cinema Ambiental — Latin-American Film Competition 2020
The 9th ‘Mostra Ecofalante de Cinema Ambiental’ invites entries to the Latin-American Competition in Environmental Cinema. Socio-environmental categories include energy, water, climate change, consumption, people and places, environmental activism, accumulated waste, contamination or export, socio-environmental resources, green spaces, urban areas, food, green economy, globalization, wildlife, and sustainability, among others. Selected films compete in the categories Best Long Film by the Jury (over 60 minutes), with a prize of R$15 thousand; Best Short Film by Jury (up to 59 minutes), with a prize of R$5 thousand; and Best Film by the Public. The deadline for submission is 15 January 2020. (Note: Information in Portuguese) Find out more
U.S. Department of State — Young Pacific Leaders Conference 2020
The US Department of State, in partnership with Cultural Vistas, accepts applications from emerging leaders (ages 25-35) across the Pacific to attend the Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Conference in Papua New Guinea (April 2020). The Conference will include informational sessions, skills workshops, cultural activities, and site visits to deepen participants’ capacity to address regional issues related to Education; Environment and Resource Management; Civic Leadership; and Economic and Social Development. All travel, lodging and meals will be provided to selected participants. After the YPL Conference, all YPL alumni will be eligible to compete for small grant funding to support projects in their countries. Applications are due by 03 February 2020. Find out more
Interreg Baltic Sea Region — Seed Money Call
Interreg Baltic Sea Region provides seed money to support the preparation of projects in line with the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). The Programme area covers eight EU Member States (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, parts of Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden) and two partner countries (Norway and parts of Russia). Seed money applications can be submitted by national, regional or local authorities. The total budget of a seed money project is €50 thousand. Draft applications have to be submitted by 09 December 2019. Find details
Center for Mediterranean Integration — Mediterranean Water Heroes Contest
The Center for Mediterranean Integration and partners invite applications for the 4th Mediterranean Water Heroes Contest. Winners will participate in the CMI 2020 World Water Day workshop in Murcia, Spain (March 2020) with covered travel and accommodation. World Water Day 2020 will focus on “Water and Climate Change.” Young researchers, entrepreneurs and activists (18-35 years) working on water challenges in the Mediterranean from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Montenegro, Palestinian Territories, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey are eligible to apply. Team applications will be accepted. Applications can be submitted in English and Arabic. Deadline for applications is 15 December 2019. Find the contest
European Commission — Removal of Marine Plastics and Litter
The European Commission seeks proposals for approaches or technologies to improve marine spatial planning and conservation (or restoration) of coastal ecosystems. This call focuses on the demonstration of technologies to clean the seafloor and the surface of nearshore waters from historically accumulated plastics and microplastics as well as from other accumulated marine litter. The Commission considers proposals of up to €6 million. International cooperations and legal entities established in EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (full list in the call document) are eligible to apply. The deadline is 22 January 2020. Find the call
European Union — Support for Entrepreneurs in the MENA Region
The Next Society launches its 3rd call for applications to join the Start-up Booster Track, a program that offers tailor-made support to Mediterranean startups. Participants will learn how to raise fund through workshops and training. The track is open for innovative early-stage startups with products or services in the following areas: Tech & Software, Food, Environment, Energy, Health, Social & Culture. Start-ups need to be established in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, or Tunisia to be eligible. The deadline for applications is 15 October 2019. About The Next Society
International Center for Journalists — Workshop for Latin American Journalists
The Douglas Tweedale Memorial Fellowship will be awarded to two Latin American journalists who seek to improve their environmental reporting skills. The two-week professional program will take place in Lima (Peru). Participants will have appointments with area investigative journalists, environmental experts, and short embeds with media outlets specializing in environmental coverage. This fellowship is open to Latin American journalists who are fluent in Spanish and proficient in English. The application deadline is 28 August 2019. Hurry
Wilson Center — Addressing Environmental Challenges in the Americas
The Wilson Center Latin America Fellowship Program 2019/2020 seeks applications to conduct research about and propose concrete solutions to the range of environmental threats faced by countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The residential fellowship will take place at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. (USA). Fellows are provided with a monthly stipend for a stay of 4-6 months. Applicants must be citizens of a Latin American or Caribbean country and have an undergraduate or graduate degree and a minimum of five years of relevant work experience. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2019. Find the fellowship