The Commonwealth awards exceptional young people, including entrepreneurs, inventors, environmentalists, women’s rights advocates, and others, who are making a difference in their communities. Entrants must be aged 15 to 29 years and can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else. This year’s finalists will receive a trophy, a certificate and cash grants to help them continue their development work. All finalists will be awarded £1,000. Each selected regional winner will receive an additional £2,000, and the Commonwealth Young Person of the Year will also receive an additional cash grant of £2,000. Entries must be received by 31 October 2018. About the award
awards/prizes
Disaster Risk Reduction Network of Africa Journalists — DIRAJ Media Awards
DIRAJ invites applications from journalists located in Africa and the Arab States for the first Media Awards on disaster risk prevention, reduction and recovery. This award is open for accredited Journalists working in television, radio, print media and verified news websites. Winners will receive a cash award and mentorship. Stories (in English/ French only) must be submitted by 01 October 2018. Find out more
Siemens Stiftung — Empowering People Award 2019
Siemens Stiftung sponsors the “empowering people. Award” as a means to identify and showcase relatively simple and smart technological solutions that have business potential to combat poverty in developing and emerging countries. The categories include water and waste water; energy; food and agriculture; waste management; and several others. The products or solutions to be submitted have to already be in use. The competition is open to any individual, team, organization, or enterprise from any region in the world. The top three prizes are €50 thousand, €30 thousand, and €20 thousand, respectively. The contest offers 7 additional awards of €10 thousand each. The deadline for submissions is 31 October 2018. Find the Award
International Finance Corporation — Contest for Youth Engagement in Energy, Water & Transport
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and International Youth Foundation (IYF) invite applications for a contest for Youth Engagement in Energy, Water & Transport. The contest aims to inspire and create a dialogue on innovative ways to engage young people in natural resource industries while addressing some of the problems and needs of communities and companies. Youth between the ages of 15 and 30 are invited to submit content around core themes of energy, water, and transport. The competition is open to nationals of all countries. The deadline for submissions is 06 August 2018. Find the Contest for Youth Engagement
Wildlife Photo — Habitats & Landscapes 2018
The wildlife photography contest series for 2018 is open. Wildlife Photo will award prizes worth US$18 thousand in total (including photography trips and equipment). A selection of winners and highly-commended images will be exhibited on an outdoor screen in New York City. The contest series is made up of three separate photo contests, each with a different theme and deadline. The next deadline for ‘Habitats & Landscapes’ is 30 September 2018. Know more
United Nations — Youth Submissions for the 67th UN DPI/NGO Conference
The Youth Sub-Committee seeks submissions from youth, showcasing their work inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals at the 67th UN DPI/NGO Conference, ”We the Peoples”. Video submissions should show why Multilateralism is needed in ending poverty, addressing climate change, forging equality and ensuring access to education in order to create a more peaceful world. Please note that submissions can be in all languages. The deadline for videos/films is 12 August 2018. More
World Academy of Sciences — Young Scientists’ Prize for Water Sanitation
The World Academy of Sciences Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Partner (TWAS-SAREP) honours one young scientist who has made significant contribution to improve sustainability of water and sanitation-related activities and programmes in the developing world. The winner will receive US$ 2,000. Nominees must be sub-Saharan African nationals. Nominations are invited from TWAS fellows, research institutions, research councils and universities. Self-nominations will not be considered. The deadline is 20 August 2018. Info
LAUNCH Circular — Innovation Challenge 2018
The LAUNCH Circular Innovation Challenge 2018 focuses on new ways of design and manufacturing for a circular economy. Innovations should help customers live a more sustainable live. LAUNCH Circular aims to select ten innovations to be scaled globally through its international partners, network, and accelerator program. The program is open to innovators worldwide. The deadline for submissions is 01 September 2018. Find the challenge
One Young World — Mary Robinson Climate Justice Award 2018
One Young World seeks applications for its Mary Robinson Climate Justice Award 2018. Submitted projects must addresses sustainable development and/or climate change with a particular emphasis on balancing the needs of present and future generations, i.e. poverty reduction, conserve or sustainably manage natural and cultural heritage, or climate education. The winner will receive £5 thousand to support or launch their project and a fully sponsored delegate place to attend the One Young World Summit 2018 in The Hague (Netherlands). To be eligible for the award participants must be aged 18 – 30. The application deadline is 25 July 2018. More
Association for the Promotion of Sciences in Africa — Technologies and Innovations for Sustainable Development
APSA calls for prototypes providing a solution for sustainable development and environmental problems in the form of Clean Energy Production, Up/Down/Re-Cycling, Water Treatment, etc. This challenge is aimed at young scientists and entrepreneurs from Africa. The winners will receive € 2,500 and a 1-month research stay in a High-Tech lab to further develop their prototype. The closing date for registration and prototype submission is 31 July 2018. About the challenge