Global Development Awards Competition

Are you a researcher or a development practitioner from a low or middle-income country? Do you have an idea for research or an innovative social development project focusing on building skills and generating employment in agriculture, manufacturing or digital technology? Do you know someone else who may be interested?

The Global Development Network (GDN) is offering six finalists the chance to win a prize of up to US$30,000 for their creative proposals under this year’s Global Development Awards Competition, an innovative awards scheme for development practitioners and researchers across the globe.

This year, the competition's theme is ‘Skills Development and Employment Generation,’ and adopts a sectoral focus which will reward creative thinking and innovative actions for skilling, technical education and training in the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing and digital technology. The competition welcomes research proposals and ongoing, innovative project ideas to be submitted under two categories: the Japanese Awards for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) and the Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP). 

The text below is from the Global Development Network website

Competition Overview

The Global Development Awards Competition is an innovative award scheme launched by GDN with the generous support from the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan. The Awards Competition recognizes excellence in policy-oriented research, supports research capacity development of researchers in developing countries and funds innovative social development projects benefiting marginalized groups in the developing world.Since its inception in 2000, GDN has provided US$ 3.8 million in awards and travel grants to finalists and winners.

The winners of the current round will be chosen by an eminent jury at GDN’s next conferenceto be held in New Delhi, India, in December 2017; an event attended by international development practitioners where finalists will present their proposals. Finalists from both award categories will be invited to present their proposals at the conference.

The competition is presently accepting submissions in two categories: (Single Online Submission Platform)

Category 1: Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development

The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) is a competitive research grant program that identifies and funds outstanding research proposals submitted by researchers from developing countries and transition economies that have a high potential for excellence in research and clear policy implications for addressing development issues in any of the three research sub-themes.

First Prize: US$ 30,000; Second Prize: US$ 10,000; Third Prize: US$ 5,000

Research Proposals for the Award will be considered in following sub-themes:

1. Skilling for Agriculture
2. Skilling for Manufacturing
3. Skilling for Digital Technologies

Eligibility Criteria: Visit the website here

Application deadline: 16 July 2017 (Indian Standard Time 6:00PM)

Category 2: Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP)

The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project is a competitive grant program that provides grants worth US$ 45,000 to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) located in developing countries torecognize the innovative approach of their grassroots projects*. The Award targets projects currently at the stage of implementation, and which have a high potential for impact targeting exceptionally marginalized and disadvantaged groups located in developing and transition countries. Proposals are based on similar themes as the first category.

*The first prize winner is also eligible to compete under the Japan Social Development Fund for an additional grant of up to US$ 200,000 to scale up their innovative work.

First Prize: US$ 30,000; Second Prize: US$ 10,000; Third Prize: US$ 5,000

Innovative development projects for the Award will be considered in following sub-themes:

1. Skilling for Agriculture
2. Skilling for Manufacture
3. Skilling for Digital Technologies

Eligibility Criteria; Visit the website here

Sources used : Global Development website and the Global Development Announcement