The Global Leadership and Education Advancing Development (Global LEAD) Initiative invites submissions to the digital storytelling contest to show how youth are using the power of change to make the world a better place. Young changemakers between the ages of 18 and 35 can submit an original, three-minute video or slideshow in Arabic, English, French, or Spanish that tells the story of their youth-led actions to advance their community. Stories must be linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the key issues: Climate Action and Food Security/Resilience. Voting will open on the platform on July 1 and close on 23 July 2021. Be aware that early submissions have more chances to get more votes. Global LEAD Digital Storytelling Contest
awards/prizes
Empower a Billion Lives — Solutions to Energy Poverty
IEEE Empower a Billion Lives is a global competition aimed at fostering innovation to develop solutions to electricity access. Solutions are expected to be scalable, innovative and sustainable. The competition is open to student groups, companies, research institutions, and non-profit organizations. Winners of the regional round will be provided enough funding to complete a 2-month long field pilot. Global final winners will receive up to $1 million in prize monies. Teams must present their solution concept and a three-minute pitch video until 31 October 2021. Link
Startup Africa — Next Generation Africa
Next Generation Africa is an accelerator program for African startups, innovators, makers, and young innovators who intend to develop products or services for the local economy. The accelerator will select 20 startups to participate in a boot camp week in Kampala, Uganda (August 2021). The project should fit in one of 6 social-impact topics, including Agribusiness & Agritech (farming systems, alternative feed supplies, agri-data business for monitoring and/or planning, new tools for farming and breeding etc.), among others. The startup can be based anywhere in the African continent but its product/service must have potential application in the East African region. The application deadline is 08 July 2021. Know more
African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement — Waterbird Conservation Award 2021
The AEWA Waterbird Conservation Award honors individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution towards long-term conservation and sustainable use of waterbirds in the African-Eurasian region. The Award is conferred every three years in two categories, institutional and individual. Please note that the AEWA Award 2021 will not be accompanied by a cash prize due to the lack of funding. The deadline for nominations (English, French) is 10 July 2021. AEWA Award
University of Montpellier — Circular Economy Challenge
The Circular Economy Challenge seeks innovations and ideas for producing goods and services in a sustainable way by limiting the consumption and waste of resources and the production of waste. Innovations must respond to the three challenges of sustainability: respectful of the environment, economically profitable and socially acceptable. Research staff at Muse, Agropolis Fondation, the Center INRAE Occitanie – Montpellier, and SATT AxLR are invited to apply. Projects may involve a non-academic partner (companies, associations, communities, etc.). Some proposals will be selected to benefit from funding between €20 thousand and €300 thousand. The closing date is 31 July 2021. Circular Economy Challenge
Global Energy Show Awards – Nominations
The Global Energy Show Awards recognize leaders and innovators in the energy industry. Awards include the Emerging Clean Technologies Award for technologies that improve environmental performance or decrease cost of production through environmental protection activities; and the Suzanne West Environmental Excellence Award to recognize initiatives that have minimized or eliminated the environmental footprint of the oil and gas industry; among other awards. Nominations of companies or individuals have to be submitted by 15 July 2021. Global Energy Show Awards
United Nations Development Programme — Pathfinder Award for Innovation in Nature Conservation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invites nominations for the Pathfinder Award. The Award recognizes outstanding and innovative solutions for protected and conserved areas from around the world. Nominations are invited from individuals and organizations. The overall winner will receive US$ 10 thousand. The deadline for nominations is 15 July 2021. Pathfinder Award
STEAM Future Makers — Clean Energy Competition
STEAM Future Makers seeks ideas and creative solutions for clean, sustainable, and accessible energy. This competition is open to anyone above 18 years of age from anywhere in the world. Individual contestants are encouraged, however teams of up to three people are allowed to participate via one submission. Ten finalists will be selected and awarded US$1,000 each. Select contestants may receive additional funding for prototype development, if required. Ideas have to be submitted by 31 May 2021. Clean Energy Competition
United Nations — Good Food for All Competition
The UN seeks applications for its Food Systems Summit competition ‘Best Small Business: Good Food for All’ to identify the best small and medium-sized enterprises from across the world transforming food systems. Small businesses around the world that help provide healthy food that is good for the environment, good for their communities and create jobs for people locally are invited to apply. Each of the 50 finalists will receive a US$2,000 cash prize. The competition is open to any small to medium sized enterprises (5-250 employees). The competition runs until 04 June 2021. Best Small Business Competition
Aqua for All and World Waternet — Award for Innovative Sanitation and Health Water Treatment
Aqua for All, World Waternet and Accenture seek entrepreneurs and innovators with breakthrough ideas and technologies for an integrated, collection, transport and treatment system of wastewater and human waste in urban settings. The 2021 theme for the challenge is ‘Sanitation and Health’. Winners have the chance to win up to €100 thousand for implementation of their solution. The application is open to any registered entity, with a market based sanitation solution. Applications are due by 05 June 2021. Sanitation and Health