Contests and Competitions

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 MCN Millennium Oceans Prize. This prestigious award, now in its tenth year, aims to recognize and support students who are dedicated to the conservation, protection, and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine life. The Millennium Oceans Prize aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 14 by honoring young activists who are committed to enhancing their communities through initiatives focused on marine and freshwater conservation, as well as the sustainable utilization of marine resources. Winners of the prize will not only receive a $5,000 grant but also benefit from mentorship to bring their campaign ideas to life, driving positive change and building advocacy, policy,

The Digital Energy Facility has launched the Digital Energy Challenge in 2021, which will run for a period of four years and includes an annual call for projects. The main objective of this Challenge is to provide support for the development of innovative solutions that can enhance access to energy, facilitate the integration of renewable energies, and improve the performance of energy operators. For the 2024 Call for Digital Energy Challenge  Projects, the focus is on projects based in Africa and owned by two specific categories: 1. Start-ups in the pre-seed phase or with early-stage activities. NGOs are also eligible to apply under the Start-up category, and you can find

Plan International, established more than 75 years ago, was created with the purpose of advocating for and safeguarding the rights of children. It was founded in 1937 by British journalist John Langdon-Davies and refugee worker Eric Muggeridge, in response to the upheaval caused by the Spanish Civil War. Initially, their focus was on providing essential necessities such as food, shelter, and education to children affected by the conflict. Langdon-Davies introduced the concept of a personal connection between a child and a sponsor, which remains at the core of our work, placing the child as the central figure. Today, Plan International operates globally, working in over 70 countries to advance children’s

Concern for Women and Children Development Foundation (COWACDI) is a Non-governmental, Non-profit Humanitarian/Developmental organization that was established in 2005. Our primary focus is on the well-being of vulnerable women and children in Nigerian society, particularly in the NE Nigeria region. We are dedicated to reducing suffering during times of crisis, whether caused by conflict or natural disasters. Currently, our efforts are concentrated in the BAY (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe) States of NE Nigeria. As a developing country, Nigeria faces numerous challenges in its developmental process. These challenges include social unrest, religious crises, various forms of violence, inadequate environmental management, misuse of social media, unemployment, and insufficient access to basic amenities

Attention all early-stage founders: Are you prepared? TechCrunch is currently seeking 200 early-stage founders to be highlighted in the Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October. In 2022, the Startup Battlefield expanded to include a showcase of the top 200 companies from around the world. Our 2023 class, consisting of entrepreneurs from over 35 countries and 25 industries with diverse backgrounds, surpassed even the first class in quality! Our third year promises to be even more competitive. If chosen from the numerous applications, these exceptional startups will receive complete access to the event, exclusive workshops, investor office hours, mentorship, training, perks, and complimentary exhibition space on

Startup World Cup is a global conference and competition that brings together the top startups, VCs, entrepreneurs and world-class tech CEOs. We are partnering with some of world’s largest conferences and tech events to host 70+ regional startup competitions for North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia. ELIGIBILITY We encourage startups in any domain, at any stage, to apply. Please note that the startup must be a legal entity not just an idea. PRIZES The winner of the Grand Finale will receive US $1,000,000 prize in investment. It will either be in exchange for a portion of equity related to the most recent round of funding or a

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Geneva Challenge. The 2024 Advancing Development Goals International Contest for Graduate Students seeks to present creative and practical solutions to address the obstacles faced in empowering youth. With the generous support of Ambassador Jenö Staehelin, the Graduate Institute initiated the Advancing Development Goals Contest in 2014. This annual global competition for Master’s students aims to foster critical thinking and innovation in the field of development, drawing on diverse disciplinary and contextual perspectives. Each year, participants are encouraged to contribute theoretically sound and pragmatic solutions to a specific international development issue. These proposals are the result of collaborative efforts between three to five

The search for Africa’s future business leaders and change-makers has commenced with the launch of the sixth annual Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition. ABH, which is a philanthropic initiative of the Jack Ma Foundation, aims to support African entrepreneurs in their endeavors. This competition, spanning across the continent, aims to identify and honor 10 exceptional entrepreneurs who are making a positive impact in their local communities. For over a decade, this program has highlighted the achievements of 100 African entrepreneurs, providing them with crucial resources such as grant funding, training programs, and comprehensive support to strengthen the wider African entrepreneurial industry. Benefits: 1. Grant Funding: The top 10 finalists will

The Young Champions of the Earth program, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is a prominent initiative that engages young individuals who have remarkable ideas to safeguard and rejuvenate the environment. In the upcoming year of 2024, one Young Champion will be chosen from each major global region: Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia, and two from Asia and the Pacific. The selected winners will benefit from mentorship, workshops to enhance their skills, and access to a network of UN experts. They will also have the opportunity to meet dignitaries at the award ceremony, gain publicity through interviews and global media, and receive

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, the Federal Ministry of Information, Innovation, and Digital Economy, in partnership with 3MTT, is hosting the 3MTT innovation challenge for women. Participate in two challenges organized by HerTechHub and 3MTT for a chance to win one of 370 laptops, 774 tablets, internship opportunities, and a share of 6 million naira. Challenge 1: An Innovation Challenge for Women Join the CommuniTech Innovation Challenge for Women by developing innovative solutions to local community issues using technology. In essence, create innovative solutions to address problems in your local communities through technology. How to join this challenge: 3MTT innovation challenge for women. Propose an innovative solution to community

BetaDen, a company based in Worcester is extending an invitation to tech start-ups from all over the world to participate in its fully funded BetaDen Technology Accelerator program. BetaDen, the organization behind the highly acclaimed Technology Accelerator Program, is welcoming tech-driven businesses from around the globe. BetaDen Technology Accelerator program Benefits Commencing in June 2024, this nine-month program guarantees selected start-ups a comprehensive support system. This support includes a £10,000 grant for proof of concept, £2,000 for marketing purposes, and access to expert mentors. The program’s funding is provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership through the Growing Places Fund.

The Lead2030 Challenge for SDG 3 offers a unique opportunity for a young leader to receive support and resources to address the pressing climate and health challenges faced by young people today. The selected non-profit organization will be awarded a grant of US $50,000 and the winner will also have the chance to attend the prestigious 2024 One Young World Summit in Montreal, Canada, with a fully-funded scholarship. Additionally, the winner will benefit from mentorship by AstraZeneca and participation in a development program through the YHP’s Impact Fellowship. Lead2030 Challenge for SDG 3 Eligibility To be eligible for this opportunity, the applicant must be a young leader between the ages

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 SDG Lab/Rethinking Economics Beyond GDP Essay Competition. In preparation for the meeting on 17 April, the SDG Lab, in partnership with Rethinking Economics, is organizing an essay competition for young individuals to express their views on moving beyond GDP. Ten outstanding essays will be chosen for publication in a compilation by the SDG Lab and Rethinking Economics. Moreover, the authors of the top five essays will have their travel and accommodation expenses covered up to €1,300 to attend the 17 April meeting in person and present the key points of their essays during the event. SDG Lab/Rethinking Economics Beyond GDP Essay Competition

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Solar Decathlon Africa Design Challenge. We are calling upon all African innovators who have a passion for design, sustainability, and addressing real-world challenges. This design challenge provides an opportunity for you to showcase your talent, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and contribute to shaping the future of Africa’s built environment. By participating in this challenge, you will have the chance to join interdisciplinary teams and create innovative, net-zero building designs that cater to Africa’s specific needs, including climate resilience, affordability, and community well-being. Through expert guidance and online resources, you will delve into cutting-edge building science and develop skills in architecture, engineering, and

Welcome to the Data Economy Hackathon! This event is dedicated to bringing together the brightest minds to explore the possibilities of web3. Created by PL Architect in collaboration with our flagship sponsors, Filecoin and InterPlanetary Consensus (IPC), we are gathering developers from Asia and around the world to delve into and build upon the Protocol Labs Ecosystem tech stack. Our main focus is on Filecoin and IPC, and here are our objectives: 1. Harness Data Value: Utilize decentralized networks to maximize the utility of data. 2. Innovate for Scalability: Develop using InterPlanetary Consensus for cutting-edge scalability. 3. Create with Filecoin: Bring dApps to life that enhance the Filecoin ecosystem. 4.

The e-Mobility Innovation Hackathon, organized by GFA Technologies (GetFundedAfrica) in collaboration with Microsoft, along with sponsors such as Sterling Bank and Oando Plc (Oando Clean Energy Ltd), offers startups and entrepreneurs the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills, knowledge, resources, and network The hackathon provides several benefits, including the chance to collaborate with major corporate companies in Nigeria, access new markets, connect with investors and secure funding for their businesses, build scalable solutions and infrastructure, and develop essential business skills. The total value of benefits available exceeds USD$75,000. Objective One of the main objectives of the hackathon is to select entrepreneurs and startups from various regions in Nigeria who have

The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has recently introduced an application portal for its Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) loan program. This initiative aims to assist business owners in expanding their operations by providing them with the opportunity to access up to N5 million in funding. The primary objective of the LSETF MSME Loan Program is to facilitate affordable funding opportunities for small businesses, enabling them to thrive, expand, generate wealth, and contribute to employment opportunities. This loan scheme offers a competitive interest rate of 9% per annum and is exclusively accessible to business owners who are registered residents of Lagos State. The establishment of the Lagos State

The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund is an ambitious initiative, a Fund of Funds worth USD$200 million, that collaborates with African investment funds to assist early-stage, growth-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the continent. Expression of Interest: Seeking Business Development Service Providers for Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, in collaboration with a consortium of partners, including Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), ESPartners (ESP), Genesis Analytics, Criterion Institute, and Africa Communications Media Group (ACG), is issuing a call for Expression of Interest. In order to realize our vision, our partner Entrepreneurial Solutions Partners (ESP) is actively searching for inclusive and

The SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition for 2024 will commence on February 20th. The chosen topic for this year is “Protecting the Nigerian Child from the Dangers of Online Technology.” The internet offers endless possibilities, allowing you to access vast amounts of information and connect with people worldwide. However, it also poses certain risks, especially for children who may not be familiar with navigating the online world safely. While physical harm cannot be inflicted through a computer screen, it is crucial to adopt a cautious approach to ensure online safety. At SystemSpecs, we believe in promoting a positive and secure online experience. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the importance of educating children

This year’s theme for the small business champions competition is: Enhancing Economic Development of Indigenous Peoples through Global Trade. Global trade has the potential to foster innovation for businesses of all scales, and there is a growing global and national commitment to bolster trade opportunities for Indigenous Peoples. Are you an organization that supports trade initiatives led by Indigenous Peoples or communities? Are you a non-governmental organization that empowers small businesses and entrepreneurs from Indigenous Communities through your development efforts? Do you own a small business that collaborates with or operates within an Indigenous community? Become a Small Business Champions This year: Enhancing Economic Development of Indigenous Peoples through Global

The NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature is expected to enhance the quality of writing, editing, proofreading, and publishing in Nigeria, thereby positively impacting print, broadcast journalism, film, and theatre production. The competition follows a four-year cycle, focusing on Prose Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Children’s Literature. In 2019, the winning book was “Boom Boom” by Jude Idada in the Children’s Literature category. Nigeria Prize for Literature Criteria To participate in the competition, only Nigerian writers, regardless of their place of residence, are eligible. Each author can submit only one published work, and unpublished works will not be considered. Previously submitted books cannot be resubmitted, even with major revisions or new editions.

The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism is currently accepting entries. This prestigious award, sponsored by Nigeria LNG, aims to recognize the author of the best critical work. In order to promote literary criticism, the Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature will grant a prize of USD 10,000 to the author of the most outstanding critical work.This year, the focus of the competition is on Children’s Literature genre. Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism participation criteria To participate, all applicants must submit their entries along with a completed application form, which can be obtained online from The Nigeria Prizes website, www.thenigeriaprizes.org. The printed forms should be submitted together with the

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024 Vital Voices (VV) Visionaries program. This program is designed to support women visionaries who are actively shaping the future they envision, redefining the concept of leadership, and demonstrating what it takes to become a leader in their own unique way. The VV Visionaries program is a collaboration between Vital Voices Global Partnership and the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund, which is the charitable fund of Estée Lauder. Together, we aim to empower the next generation of emerging leaders who are revolutionizing leadership in their everyday lives. Our goal is to champion women leaders across various sectors, industries, and backgrounds who are committed

Imagine Cup Junior, now in its fifth year, offers an exciting opportunity for students aged 5-18 to explore the world of technology and its potential in solving global challenges. This global student challenge serves as a great platform for students to delve into artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cybersecurity, catering to all levels, including beginners. This year, Microsoft is thrilled to introduce a new category specifically designed for students aged 5-12. With a focus on Technology for Good, this category provides tailored lessons for early learners. The newly developed teaching resources aim to support educators in providing this valuable opportunity to their students. Additionally, Microsoft is pleased to announce