International Telecommunication Union presents: Global South COVID-19 Digital Innovation Challenge
About the Opportunity
Do you have a digital solution that addresses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South?
The Global South COVID-19 Digital Innovation Challenge, in response to COVID-19, is co-organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC). The challenge will identify scalable innovative digital solutions that will enable countries, societies, communities, institutions, and individuals from the Global South to deal with the cascading effects of the pandemic – across governance, economic and social sectors, and wellbeing – and contribute to the organizations’ respective focus on South-South cooperation and digital technologies. The Challenge objective is to promote South-South cooperation by replicating or scaling up existing innovations with a potential partner/ country in the South. The Challenge will provide a mentorship scheme to increase the potential/ capabilities of the selected proposals/ teams to scaling up innovations across developing countries.
The deadline for applications is the 15th of July 2021. The shortlisted candidates will be selected on the 5th of August 2021 to pitch live on the 15th of September 2021.
Key points
Winning proposals will be provided with seed funding up to USD 25 000 (additional term and conditions apply) to implement/improve/scale up their proposed solution(s), with mentorship and training support, in a new market (developing country) by end of April 2022.
We are looking for legally registered organizations/institutions from developing countries that are eligible to participate in this challenge. Developing countries include the least developed countries, small island developing states, landlocked developing countries, middle-income, low-income countries, and countries with economies in transition. The challenge is open to governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, private sector and start-ups, research institutions, academia, and civil society organization (CSOs).
Eligibility Criteria
Only legally registered organizations/institutions from developing countries [1] are eligible to participate in this challenge. The challenge is open to governments, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, private sector and start-ups, research institutions, academia, and civil society organization (CSOs).
Applying organizations/institutions must have an existing project or minimum viable product (MVP) [2] that:
promotes South-South cooperation by replicating or scaling up existing innovations with a potential partner/country in the South,
demonstrates a new innovative project/prototype, outlining its potential for scaling up through South-South cooperation, and
is a digital solution
Only one submission per applying organization/institution is permitted (in case of multiple submissions, only the first one received will be considered). All submissions must be made in the English language only. Applying organizations/institutions will be required to submit proof of their legal registration.
For more information, please click:
https://cocreate.itu.int/hubbub/communitypage/120093
To Apply, please click:
https://cocreate.itu.int/category/223257
Contact Details
innovation@itu.int
Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT)
Voice: +41 22 730 5435
Fax: +41 22 730 5484
Email: bdtmail@itu.int
Postal Address
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Place des Nations
1211 Geneva 20 Switzerland