The Chasing Genius Challenge invites ideas from around the world to make the planet more sustainable; to improve global health; and to feed nine billion people by mid-century. Each idea should be submitted as a one-minute video. The submitted ideas will be evaluated according to criteria of innovation, creativity, viability, and inspiration. The winner in each of the three categories will be awarded US$25 thousand, in addition to a fourth winner chosen on the basis of popular vote. The submission period is 01 June through 31 July 2017. Link
social enterprise
ASEAN Peace Project — Young Peace Builders for Climate Action
The Young Peace Builders for Climate Action is seeking thirty youth leaders from across Southeast Asia to participate in an accelerator workshop to be held in July (Quezon City, Philippines) on reducing disaster risks, adapting to climate change, and promoting peace building in conflict areas of the ASEAN countries. Eligibility extends to persons ages 18 to 25 living in or working with conflict-affected and/or disaster-prone areas in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The application deadline is 26 May 2017. Link
Smart Villages — Energy Innovation Challenge 2017
The Energy Innovation Challenge welcomes ideas for social enterprises powered by off-grid energy in East Africa. Top applications will win the opportunity to develop their idea into a full business model and pitch for seed funding at the Dare to Change Dar conference in September. The closing date to apply is 08 May 2017. Link
Global Cleantech Innovation Programme — Clean Technology for SMEs 2017
The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) for small and medium enterprises is co-sponsored by the GEF, UNIDO, and national institutions in the participating countries. The GCIP aims to spur local innovations in energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy, waste management, and water efficiency. Each country manages a competition to identify promising entrepreneurs and a business accelerator to connect them to potential investors, customers, and partners. The rules of participation, and the benefits of the program, vary by country. The remaining application deadlines include: 10 May for Turkey, Link; 09 June for Malaysia, Link; and 10 June for Pakistan, Link.
Singularity University — Global Grand Challenge Awards 2017
The Global Grand Challenge Awards invite applications from startup enterprises that are attacking the world’s most difficult problems. Three teams in each of 12 tracks will be invited to California in August 2017 to present their work at the Singularity University Global Summit EXPO. One winner will be selected from each track to be assisted with recognition and exposure. The tracks include disaster resilience, energy, environment, food, water, and others. The application deadline is 31 July 2017. Link
Social Entrepreneurship Impact & Finance — Awards for Social Enterprise 2017
Social Entrepreneurship Impact & Finance (seif) supports individuals and teams that apply innovative business ideas to address current social and/or environmental problems. Categories include agriculture; food and nutrition; environment; energy; water and sanitation; and others. The competition is open to social enterprises from all over Europe. The program will make four awards of CHF 10 thousand each. The application deadline is 30 June 2017. Link
Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves — Women’s Empowerment Fund
The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves welcomes applications for the fourth annual Women’s Empowerment Fund (WEF). The WEF is a financing mechanism to scale business models for women’s entrepreneurship in projects to advance household energy. The WEF will award up to four grants in the range of US$75 thousand to US$150 thousand for one year. The Alliance will give preference to enterprises owned and managed by women in the following countries: Bangladesh,China, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. However, qualified organizations operating in other countries are also encouraged to apply. Applicants must be a registered partner of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves prior to the application deadline. Organizations that are not currently partners can learn how to register from information published on the website. The application deadline is 02 April 2017. Link
Energy and Environmental Partnership Mekong — Support for Project Preparation
The Energy and Environment Partnership Programme with the Mekong Region (EEP Mekong) is funded by Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs to improve access to sustainable energy in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. EEP Mekong offers grants to facilitate project preparation in the participating countries. The focus of preparation support will be feasibility studies on clean energy, particularly bioenergy and W2E projects, in both the public and private sectors. Other types of preparation support (cost-benefit analysis, environmental impact studies, etc.) will be considered case-by-case. EEP Mekong will fund up to 80% of the feasibility studies or other preparation costs. Proposed projects should have a minimum capital investment of €500 thousand. Applications can be submitted through 31 December 2017. Link
European Commission — Women and Sustainable Energy
The EC calls for proposals to promote women’s entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in the sustainable energy sector and value chain, with an emphasis on financial services. The action must take place in multiple countries which are recipients of official development aid, including in Sub-Saharan Africa and possibly in other developing regions. Partnerships among academia, civil society, NGOs, international or local organizations, financial institutions, government, private sector, etc., may bring added value to a comprehensive approach. The amount of funding is from €4 million to €8 million, varying with cost shares. Reference EuropeAid/155118/DH/ACT/Multi. The deadline for submitting concept notes is 25 April 2017. Link
Australian Aid and Tata Group — XPrize for Water Abundance
Sponsored by the Tata Group jointly with Australian Aid, the Water Abundance XPRIZE invites teams to revolutionize access to water by creating a device that uses renewable energy to extract a minimum of 2,000 liters of water per day from the atmosphere at a combined operating and capital cost of no more than two cents per liter. Eligibility to compete for the prize extends to teams of scientists, engineers, academics, entrepreneurs, and innovators from all over the world. The grand prize is US$1.5 million, and the competition will award additional (milestone) prizes of US$250 thousand. The registration deadline is 28 April 2017. Link