News and Opportunities

BRITISH COUNCIL #IDEASCHANGELIVES GLOBAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2019

Application Deadline: 10 January 2020.

British Council #IdeasChangeLives is the global innovation challenge to find digital solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems. British Council is looking for people with a fresh, entrepreneurial spirit and a big idea that has the potential to make a positive impact in communities across the globe.

The winning pitch will get £20,000 to invest in their idea, as well as mentorship and support from the British Council for a full year.

The focus for 2019:

This year, the British Council is looking for ideas that help us to meet any or all of the targets within one of the three Global Goals for Sustainable Development below:

Goal 4: Quality education

Goal 5: Gender equality

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Requirements:

The competition is open to anyone and everyone across the world. You can choose to apply as an individual or an organisation.

British Council accepts ‘early-stage’ applications, meaning you don’t necessarily need a working prototype when you make your application.

You don’t need to be working in the digital or technology sector to apply.

To help, the British Council recommends thinking carefully about the following before you apply:

The need your idea addresses – be clear about which one of The Global Goals you are focusing on and the problem your idea could help to solve.

How people will benefit – tell us why your idea matters to the people it is designed for and how it has the potential to positively impact thousands of lives.

Why it’s compelling – we need to feel that you care about making a difference so tell us the story behind your idea.

The competition – show us you have a clear understanding and awareness of any competitors who may be working on similar products and tell us why your idea is different.

The tools and resources needed to turn it into a product – it doesn’t matter if you haven’t worked with technology before. What does matter is a clear understanding of how your idea will work in the real world.

Benefits:

Funding to get your idea off the ground

Support to help you succeed

For more information visit BRITISH COUNCIL

WORLD BANK AFRICA REGION 2020 #BLOG4DEV ESSAY CONTEST FOR YOUNG AFRICANS

Application Deadline: November 30, 2019.

#Blog4Dev Competition: What will it take to end child marriage in your country?

 World Bank Kenya office, the Blog4Dev competition is an annual writing contest, inviting young people to weigh in on a topic critical to the country’s economic development. The competition is a way to engage Africa’s youth and provide a platform to share their views—and solutions—about development topics that are important to them.

ELIGIBILITY:

Be a citizen of any of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Be between the ages of 18 and 28 years of age on November 30, 2019.

Currently, reside in a Sub-Saharan African country

Prizes:

Being invited to attend a dedicated program during the World Bank – IMF Spring Meetings 2020 in Washington DC

Opportunities to represent Africa’s youth at high-level events

A chance to intern at a World Bank Africa country office, or an opportunity to have your blog published on the World Bank Africa blog Youth Transforming Africa.

For more information visit WORLD BANK AFRICA

UNDP ACCELERATOR LAB ICT SCHOLARSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM 2019 FOR SOMALI PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Application Deadline: November 1st 2019

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) bring prosperity and revolutionize life in many aspects. Realizing the significance of technology role in facilitating the daily life of citizens and valuing the principle of social justice, UNDP seeks to disseminate ICT tools and make them available to all segments of the society nationwide, serving poor and marginalized areas with special focus on youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PwDs) to have an inclusive Somalia Society.

Requirements:

Have a secondary school degree.

Be between 18 to 35 years old.

Be fluent in English as the training will be fully in English.

Be aware of the basics of the principles of computer use.

Be passion about technology and innovating for the community. — be self-learner and motivated.

Benefits:

Flight tickets to and from Cairo, Egypt.

Internal transportation.

Full accommodation for trainees in Cairo, Egypt

Training at the Egyptian National Academy of Communication and Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities (NAID).

For more information visit UNDP ACCELERATOR LAB

GOAL MALAWI YOUTH ADVOCATES WORKSHOP IN AFRICA

DEADLINE: October 20, 2019

GOAL Malawi and PRB will host a workshop to introduce active young advocates to the topic of population, environment, and development (PED), and teach them about evidence-based policy communication. Participants will learn how to define policy goals, identify target audiences, and craft communication objectives.

WORTH

The project will pay for air tickets from their countries of residence to the training venue (Lilongwe), local transport in Lilongwe, accommodation, and food. (Successful applicants will be required to meet their visa costs.)

Participants will receive follow-up technical support to implement their activity.

ELIGIBILITY

Youth advocates ages 18 to 30 based in eastern, southern, and western Africa

Successful applicants will be required to meet their own visa costs. The project will pay for air tickets from their countries of residence to the training venue (Lilongwe), local transport in Lilongwe, accommodation, and food.

For more information visit GOAL MALAWI