The African Center of Excellence in Energy for Sustainable Development (ACEESD), in collaboration with World Bank and SIDA, invites students and individuals, both nationals of Rwanda and non-nationals, to submit their business ideas to develop a product aimed at a practical solution reflecting the real problems faced by communities in Rwanda and Africa. Selected entrepreneurs will attend a boot camp and receive mentorship, coaching and guidance to further develop their idea into a real business. The best five ideas will receive seed funding. Proposals have to be submitted by 06 March 2020. Click for details
awards/prizes
InterAction — Photo Contest 2020
InterAction encourages photographers from all around the world to submit powerful photos that illustrate innovative, effective, and inspiring efforts in international relief and development. Examples of empowering women, innovative technology, food security and environmental development are within the contest’s theme, though entries are not limited to those areas. The Grand Prize Winner will receive US$1,000 and the winning photo will be showcased at InterAction’s 2020 Forum in April 2020, in Washington, DC (USA). The deadline for submissions is 11 March 2020. Submit your picture
Canadian International Development Research Center — Prize for Leadership in Research for Development
The Canadian International Development Research Center (IDRC) awards the David Hopper Prizes for Leadership in Research for Development to two individuals for outstanding achievement in the field of international development. These prizes are available to researchers from low or middle-income countries who have previously received or currently receive IDRC support. The two winners will receive CA$50 thousand each. The application process is by nomination only. Institutions may nominate individuals with whom they have had or still have a significant association. The deadline for nominations is 18 March 2020. Details here
Water and Energy for Food — Asia Agriculture & Energy Prize
The Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) Prize seeks business owners and entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia with innovations in renewable energy and agriculture. The Prize includes a US$355 thousand cash prize for winners and runners-up, and sponsorship to participate in the Clean Asia Energy Forum in the Philippines (June 2020). The Prize is open to mid-stage businesses and youth innovators. To be eligible for the mid-stage prize, enterprises must have existing services or products. For the Youth Innovators Prize, applicants must be under the age of 30 with a pre-revenue or post-revenue business model. Submission deadline is 29 January 2020. Click here
World Bank — Innovate4Climate Pitch Hub Competition
Innovate4Climate seeks innovators, startups and entrepreneurs who develop climate-smart solutions with potential for transformative impact in reducing emissions and/or increasing resilience to climate change. Solutions can be goods, services (e.g. financial instruments, risk management mechanisms), technological solutions, or innovative business models. The competition aims to support climate-smart cities with innovations for energy, food/agriculture, waste/water, and two additional categories.The call for solutions will close on 01 March 2020. Find the Pitch Hub competition
World Academy of Sciences — TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize for Scientists in the Developing World
The TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize gives international recognition to individual scientists in the developing world for their outstanding scientific achievements. The prize carries a monetary award of US$100 thousand. In 2020, the prize is for agricultural sciences. Candidates must be nationals of a developing country, and must have lived and worked in a developing country for the last 10 years. The deadline for nominations is 10 March 2020. TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize
Inter-American Development Bank — Improving Lives in Latin America and the Caribbean
The JK VISIONARIES award recognizes organizations that are working to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. The award seeks sustainable solutions that solve people’s problems with new tools, methods, or techniques (possibly within one or more thematic areas of the Terra Viva Grant Directory) with the potential to be replicated in other countries. The winning organization will receive US$100 thousand to continue to implement the project that was presented with the application. Submissions will be accepted until 31 March 2020. More
Sight and Life — Climate-Smart Nutrition
Sight and Life invites ideas from students, young professionals and entrepreneurs to provide a planet-friendly disruptive solution to combat malnutrition. Nutritional, climate-friendly and environmental-friendly innovative solutions from a diverse category of products, technologies and services are welcome. An Elevator Pitch Contest will be held at the Micronutrient Forum Global Conference (March 2020). Seven selected finalists will win a round trip and accommodation to Bangkok to present their idea. The winner will receive a cash award of US$5 thousand. Online applications have to be submitted by 31 January 2020. Find the contest
World Academy of Sciences — Science Awards 2020
Each year, the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) awards nine awards of US$10 thousand each to individual scientists who have been working and living in a developing country for at least 10 years. The disciplinary fields include agricultural sciences, biology, and seven others. TWAS particularly encourages nominations of women scientists, and scientists from scientifically-lagging countries. The deadline for nominations is 16 March 2020. Click here
WWF-India — Climate Solver Awards
Climate Solver is a climate innovations platform developed by WWF to strengthen the development and widespread use of low carbon technologies. WWF-India invites submissions from small and medium enterprises that offer technologies that significantly lowers carbon emissions or provide sustainable solutions to enhance energy access. Indian enterprises, businesses and companies are welcome to submit an application. The deadline for application is 15 January 2020. About the Climate Solver Awards