The British Council seeks creative digital ideas that has the potential to change the world and improve the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged people. Ideas have to focus on one of three Global Goals for Sustainable Development, including “Decent Work and Economic Growth” (which fits the category Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry). The winning pitch will get £20 thousand to invest in their idea and mentorship for a full year. The competition is open to anyone and everyone across the world. Applicants can choose to apply as an individual or an organisation. Applications have to be submitted by 10 January 2020. #IdeasChangeLives
awards/prizes
Smogathon — Technology to Fight Air Pollution
Smogathon aims to fight air pollution through technology. Start-ups will compete for $15 thousand in cash and a contract to implement their innovation in Krakow, Poland. Smogathon welcomes participation from any group worldwide that works as a registered company, start-up, foundation, or research group with a legal entity. The finalists will compete in Krakow during the Global Clean Air Summit. The deadline for applications is 10 November 2019. Link
BeAnimal — Autumn Writing Competition
BeAnimal invited submissions to the autumn writing competition. Participants have to submit a short story (500-1000 words in length) about nature and sustainability. The grand prize is a trip to the Valley of Flowers National Park in India. The contest is open to anyone. Submissions have to be made in English. The submission deadline is 16 December 2019. More
ASEAN Foundation — FutureReady ASEAN Competition
Future Ready ASEAN is an online platform with learning tracks to foster digital skills, in particular computer science. The FutureReady ASEAN Competition invites ASEAN youth to develop a blog site on a pressing challenge in the ASEAN region across one of the four following sub-themes: Agriculture, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Water. The competition is open to all ASEAN youth aged 15 to 35. The finalists will be invited to present their blog at a final event in Bangkok, Thailand (28-29 November 2019). The winner receives US$2 thousand. Submissions close on 13 October 2019. About
Euromena Consulting — Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa Startups
Euromena Consulting invites applications for the 3rd Euromena Awards – Sub-Saharan Africa Edition. The awards are intended for companies or innovative projects with social, economic, environmental and/or societal impact. To be eligible, the startup must be based in a sub-saharan country. The three winners will receive 6 months of customized business consulting (coaching, mentorship, and advisory services), plus financial rewards – 1st place €5 thousand; 2nd place €3 thousand; 3rd place €2 thousand. Applications are invited until the end of October. Award details
International Food Policy Research Institute — Short Video Contest
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) seeks short videos (1-2 minutes) for the “My Food our Future” video contest. The video should offer ideas and solutions to access healthy and affordable diets. Young filmmakers from all around the world have the chance to win a US$500 prepaid gift card. The competition is open to young filmmakers between the ages of 10 and 25. The deadline for submissions is 01 October 2019. More information
Invest2Impact — Access to Funding for Women-led Businesses
The Invest2Impact Competition seeks to support 100 women-led businesses in East Africa with funding, mentoring and networking opportunities. The competition will award US$20 thousand to a business that is working to address climate change and promote a green economy, among three other categories. The competition is open to women entrepreneurs and small and medium-size women-led businesses from Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda. Applications have to be submitted by 20 September 2019. About Invest2Impact
UN-Habitat — Waste to Wealth
UN-Habitat calls for innovative solutions and best practices that transform waste to wealth. Applicants may submit technologies, solutions, ideas, or approaches that change the way we think about, use and treat waste (solid, liquid, domestic, industrial and commercial). The best 20 submissions will be published and showcased as part of World Habitat Day. Applications are open to everyone who is passionate about solving the challenges of waste management. Submissions have to be received by 06 September 2019. Details
Fondation Carmignac — Photojournalism Award 2019
The Carmignac Photojournalism Award aims to support a journalistic and photographic project which shows the human, social and ecological challenges the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces today. The contest is open to photojournalism projects that explore humanitarian issues, human-wildlife conflicts, the exploitation of natural resources (including mining, freshwater, deforestation), and other conflicts relevant to the DR Congo. The winner will receive a €50 thousand grant to carry out a 6-month field report. Submissions will be received until 16 October 2019. More
Thought for Food — AgriFood Tech Pitching Competition Oceania
Thought for Food and the Ag Institute Australia seek agri-food tech startups based in Oceania to join the first AgriFood Tech Pitching Competition. 10 Finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas at Cicada Innovations (Sydney, September 2019) and gain international exposure as well as the chance to win prize money. Applications close on 04 September 2019. More info