Access over $1.5 million in funding is available for MIT Solve's 2019 Challenges.

About the challenge

• Anyone, anywhere around the world can submit a solution to Solve's Challenges. You can be an individual, a team, or an organization. You can be an applicant from previous years or already part of our community. If you have a relevant solution, we hope you'll apply. For full participation details, please see our Terms of Service.

Areas of focus

• Circular Economy
• Community-Driven Innovation
• Early Childhood Development and
• Healthy Cities. 

Solutions focus

Solve seeks innovative, human-centered, tech-based solutions to our Global Challenges. Solution applications must be written in English. We will consider solutions at all stages of development:

• Idea: We welcome you to submit your solution idea, but please note that concept-stage solutions are unlikely to be selected. You have until the submission deadline to prototype and experiment with your idea!
• Prototype: A venture building and testing its product, service, or business model. Typically described as "pre-seed" if for profit.
• Pilot: An enterprise deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community. Hybrids and for-profits would typically be in a "seed" round and generating revenue (whether or not they are cash flow positive).
• Growth: An enterprise with an established product, service, or business model rolled out, which is poised for further growth in multiple communities or countries. Organizations at this stage should have a clear path to sustainability. For-profits at this stage would be "seed" or "Series A."
• Scale: A sustainable enterprise working in several communities or countries that is looking to scale significantly, focusing on increased efficiency. For-profits in this stage would be "Series A" or "Series B."
• Partnership Potential: The applicant clearly explains how the solution would benefit from the broad range of resources that the Solve community is positioned to provide.

Through open innovation, Solve is looking for a diverse portfolio of solutions across geography, development stage, and team members’ gender and background. We encourage people of all backgrounds to submit applications.

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Deadline

1 July 2019 

The International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) is a multi-donor fund, established by the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005) to support its implementation in developing countries.

Eligible projects

The IFCD invests in projects that lead to structural change through:

• the introduction and/or elaboration of policies and strategies that have a direct effect on the creation, production, distribution of and access to a diversity of cultural expressions, including cultural goods, services, and activities;
• the reinforcement of human and institutional capacities of the public sector and civil society organizations, deemed necessary to support viable local and regional cultural industries and markets in developing countries.

Who can apply

• Public authorities and institutions from eligible countries (developing countries, Parties to the 2005 Convention).
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from eligible countries (developing countries, Parties to the 2005 Convention)
• International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) registered in countries Parties to the 2005 Convention

Funding amount

Maximum 100,000 USD

African Union seeking for the ICT innovative project to enhance education delivery in Africa. There is a high need to innovate education development, provision, and delivery, taking advantage of the digital revolution. As the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) states, ICT is a major tool for ensuring universal access, quality of provision and delivery, and empowerment of school graduates for meaningful personal lives, and contribution to social economic development. ICT opens up possibilities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability; flexibility in pedagogies; beating the limitation of time and space for varied learner needs, and simply enhancing confidence and dignity of graduates at all levels.

Types of projects to be submissions

• Practical Innovations:

Provide a summary description of the innovation, stating the problem it addresses, the unique outcomes that have been achieved, and the possibility of enlarging the scale of operation. Explain briefly how the innovation can be up-scaled, replicated and sustained. Use a maximum of 500 words. The Innovation must not have been submitted for the African Union’s Innovating Education in Africa Expo before.

• Academic Papers

Papers should present original quality research with the potential for practical application. Submit a succinct Abstract of no more than 150 words; and a paper with a maximum of 1,000 words including references.

Eligibility Criteria

• Innovation should be in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Education;
• You should not have been previously awarded the AU Education Innovation Prize;
• The individual submitting on his/her own behalf or on behalf of an organization must be a citizen of an AU Member State;  The submission must be made by the original author or developer of the innovation or staff of the organization that developed the innovation;
• The innovation must have demonstrated impact, with potential for wide dissemination in Africa;
• The individual or organization submitting must consent to have their innovation publicized across the continent for purposes of replication;
• Each individual or organization must submit only one innovation.

Benefits for successful applicants

• Presentation of their innovations at the Innovating Education in Africa Expo 2019.
• Funding support to participate in the event.
• A chance to receive the AU Education Innovation Prize.
• Publication of the innovations in the Africa Education Innovations Handbook 2019.
• Membership of the Africa Education Innovators Network (AEIN)
• Certificate of recognition for Innovation

Deadline for Submissions in 30th April 2019

Read more or visit the African Union website.

Do you have a great idea but you don't know where to start? Contact us or  Schedule a call or meeting and let's discuss.  We will assist you.

The Global Innovation Fund is open for social innovations that aim to improve the lives and opportunities of millions of people.

Funding structure:

• Pilot: Early state innovation project. Looking for testing core assumptions and financial viability (Maximum amount per project is US$230,000).
• Test and Transition: The innovation project has completed initial testing and is now transitioning to a larger scale(The maximum amount per project is $2.3 million)
• Scale: The innovation project has solid operational, social and financial viability. The project has improved the lives of those living on less than $5 PPP per day. You want to replicate the project in new countries( Maximum amount per project is $15 million)

Who is Eligibility: Private companies, NGOs, Institutions and government agencies.

Location: Developing countries 

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