The Global Makers Challenge invites innovative start-ups, entrepreneurs and businesses to submit solutions to solve real-world problems. The current Sustainable Energy challenge seeks manufacturing methods and products that allow increased access to low carbon energy for people living in rural and isolated communities. Applications are invited from innovators around the world without any geographical limitations. The winner receives prizes, including cash and mentorship. Shortlisted companies will be invited to a pitch live session in UAE (May 2019), finalist will be invited to the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (July 2019) in Russia. The deadline is 31 January 2019. Find the Sustainable Energy Challenge
awards/prizes
Amigos da Jubarte — Photography and Arts Contest
The Amigos da Jubarte Project is a non-profit initiative focusing on humpback whale conservation and sustainable tourism for habitat protection in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The Project invites submissions for its first photography contest entitled “Where is the Whale?”. Categories are: Whales, Creatures of the Sea, The Ocean, Making Of, Videos, and Illustrations and Arts. The winners of each category will receive non-cash awards. Submissions from all over the world are welcome. The deadline for submissions is 31 March 2019. Find the contest
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research — German-African Innovation Incentive Award
The Innovation Award will be presented to researchers in Africa and their German partners for proven outstanding collaborative research projects in the fields of environmental sciences, bioeconomy, resource management, and others. Project grants of a maximum €150 thousand are provided for a maximum period of 24 months. Applications may be submitted by universities, research institutions and as well as commercial companies. Project outlines have to be submitted by 15 January 2019. Find the call
Famae — Cleaner and Accessible Water Challenge
The company Famae seeks an idea, product or service from all over the world to preserve water and make it more accessible to everyone. Solutions should be pragmatic, efficient, durable, and money-saving to make life easier for urban citizens while reducing their environmental footprint. Individuals, teams, businesses, government entities, universities and organizations are eligible to apply. The maximum award is €2 million which may be allocated to a single exceptional project to cover the production of a prototype. Applications will be accepted until 15 February 2019. Find the terms and conditions
World Bank — Support for Women Micro-Entrepreneurs
The World Bank Group invites applications for the “Sustainable Development Goals and Her Competition”. SDGs & Her is an online competition for women micro-entrepreneurs to showcase how they are supporting the SDGs through their business operations. Winners will receive leadership training, mentoring and will be flown to Washington DC, for an event at the World Bank Group-IMF Spring Meetings (April 2019). The deadline for the competition is 31 December 2018. Here
Africa Energy Indaba — African Youth Energy Innovator Showcase
The Africa Energy Indaba Exhibition (Johannesburg, February 2019) focuses on energy projects on the continent, rural energy solutions, urbanization and energy needs and the renewable & sustainable energy industry. Africa Energy Indaba seeks solutions to energy problems in Africa and invites projects in the areas of energy security, environmental sustainability, and affordable energy to apply for the African Youth Energy Innovator Showcase 2019. The contest is open to 18 to 35 year old individuals from across Africa. The Top-5 finalists will each receive an opportunity to showcase their Innovation in a 2-day Exhibition during the Africa Energy Indaba (all expenses paid). The deadline for submissions is 04 January 2019. Energy Innovator 2019
UNDP and UNESCO — Writing Competition for Young Journalists
UNDP and UNESCO jointly launch the “IATI Research Challenge for Journalists” – a research and writing competition for journalists around the world aged between 15 and 25. Journalists should investigate how their country (or a country of their choice) is progressing towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and explore how funds for development are being utilised. Prizes for the winners in each category (divided by world region and age) include laptops or tablets. The deadline for the submission of articles is 20 December 2018. Find the competition
World Bank — Ideas for Action Competition 2019
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 28 February 2019. Ideas for Action
International Primatological Society — Primate Conservation, Research, and Education
IPS makes grants to support primate conservation in the field; primate care in captivity; conservation education; and conservation training. Applicants for the Southwick Award (conservation education) and the Galante Award (training) must be residents of habitat countries. Grants range from US$1,000 to US$2,500. The annual deadline for applications in all categories is 01 March of each year. About
Inter-American Development Bank — Funding for Blue Economy Proposals
The IDB seeks firms and organizations looking to pilot and scale up business models that use cutting edge technologies to contribute to the sustainable management of oceans, marine ecosystems and coastal resources. The funding requests (technical assistance) should be within a range of US$150 thousand to US$500 thousand. Proposals for loans should be within a range of US$500 thousand to US$2 million. The Blue Tech Challenge seeks to support business models that apply new technologies to deliver products and/or solutions in: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The submission deadline is 30 November 2018. Find the Blue Tech Challenge