Apply Now: World Bank Youth Summit, Technology & Innovation Contest 2017

Apply Now: World Bank Youth Summit, Technology & Innovation Contest 2017

Do you have an idea that has the potential to solve a problem or need by taking advantage of the transformative potential of the digital revolution and the technological advances of our times? Does your idea positively impact your community, your country, and/or society at large? If  yes, then join the Youth Summit 2017 Competition.
Rapid technological changes have created both challenges and opportunities around the world, we must take advantage of the inherent transformative potential of technology to make the world more prosperous and inclusive for all.
  1. If you could take advantage of today’s technology and solve any problem or need, what would it be?
  2. Would it support the WBG twin goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity?
Participants should propose an innovative and action-oriented idea on how to provide a solution to a developmental challenge adapted to the realities of the 21st century. The proposed solution can be aimed at business (private sector) or policy (public sector) and should relate to at least one of the subthemes of the Youth Summit 2017:
  • Transforming the Economic Landscape
  • Leveraging Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs)
  • Igniting Youth Entrepreneurship
Contribute to building the inclusive tech-world of tomorrow by sharing your idea!

To Be Taken At: 

World Bank Group Headquarters, Washington DC, USA

Eligibility: 

To share your idea and enter the Youth Summit 2017 Competition, you shall:
1. Make sure that you/your team meet the Eligibility Requirements:
  • The Competition is open to individuals or teams of 2-4 people, aged 18 to 35 inclusive as of 11.59 pm EST on September 29, 2017.
  • Teams and individuals are limited to one submission each.
  • The Competition is open to nationals of ALL countries of the world.
  • Active staff of the World Bank Group (at the time of the submission up until the closing of the Youth Summit 2017), including Consultants and Interns, are not eligible to participate in the Competition.
2. Prepare a proposal that outlines your idea, as per the following Submission Rules:
  • Proposals must be created by and owned by the Participants.
  • Proposals must be submitted in English.
  • Proposals shall provide an innovative and action-oriented business-level or policy-level idea aimed at solving a problem/need that will support at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and one of the World Bank’s Twin goals of (1) Reducing poverty and (2) Boosting Shared Prosperity.
  • Proposals must comply with at least one of the following criteria:
    • The problem/need to be solved must have been caused by a technological transformation, and/or;
    • The idea/solution must use a technological component (such as ICTs) to solve the developmental problem/need.
  • The problem/need and the proposed solution outlined in the Proposals must relate to at least one of the subthemes of the Youth Summit 2017 and should apply to a least one client country of the World Bank Group.
  • Proposals must (a) provide a short 2-5 sentences summary of the idea, (b) describe which Sustainable Development Goal it will support and which YS Subtheme it relates to, (c) describe the specific problem/need that the proposed solution seeks to address, and (d) describe the solution proposed to address this specific problem/need (e.g. a product, service, program, policy, course, initiative etc.).
  • Proposals will be judged based on the following Judging Criteria: (1) Clarity, scope and relevance of the problem and of the proposed solution; (2) Innovation and originality; (3) Feasibility of implementation and whether it is sustainable in time; (4) Potential for impact. Please refer to the Competition Rules and Regulations for further information about the Judging Criteria.
  • Proposals must be between 1,000-2,500 words in length, all-inclusive – i.e. including all bodies of text, titles, headings, tables, textboxes, footnotes, endnotes, references, appendices etc. – and must not exceed 4 pages in total.
  • The following information must be provided at the top of the first page of the Proposal: (a) the names of the Participant(s) submitting the Proposal – for teams, all team members’ names shall be listed; (b) the final word count (all-inclusive).

Benefit of Award: 

  • Winners will receive in-kind prizes. Details will be announced at a later stage.
  • The World Bank Group is neither accountable nor responsible for any of the prizes awarded. Winners are responsible for all applicable taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. No transfer or
    substitution of a prize is permitted.
  • In addition to the prizes, the YSOC will make efforts to feature and promote Finalists’ and Winners’ ideas on the Youth Summit event page and social media platforms, and to provide exposure to Winners at high profile events, including, for example, webinars, workshops, and other events of the World Bank’s development partners globally.

How to Apply: 

To Participate Click Here

Application Deadline: 

29th September 2017