Deadline: April 11, 2013
The World Bank and Microsoft have launched a call for proposals for a South Asia Regional Grant Competition titled: “Youth Solutions! Technology for Skills and Employment” in Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Applications are invited from youth-led organisations using ICT to address the challenges facing the youth like lack of skills development and unemployment.
About ‘Youth Solutions! Technology for Skills and Employment’
The competition seeks ideas from youth on how to use innovative and creative methods to promote IT skills amongst youth helping them to secure gainful employment. The program will be organized in four South Asian countries – Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Prize
- Each country will win one grant of US$ 10,000 to 20,000 to carry out an innovative project, one year in duration.
Eligibility
- Application is open to Youth-led organizations and NGOs in one of four South Asian countries – Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka..
- The applying organization has to be registered with at least two years of operation.
- All team members have to be above 18 years of age.
Selection Criteria
- The project proposed should use ICT as a tool to implement or promote the project.
- The project should provide employment opportunities for at least 3 people and above.
- A strong sustainability plan needs to be part of the initial project proposal.
- The projects should be participatory.
- Proposed project must be completed within 12 months of disbursement of the initial grant
- The output or results outlined in proposals should be measurable and demonstrate a direct impact in project areas. Projects with the sole final output of research, such as publications, training or conferences/forums with no directly verifiable results will be ineligible.
- Innovation is one of the key criteria of selection. Out of the box initiatives, which can be practically implemented, will score.
What Kind of Activities are Not Supported?
Research programs, formal academic training programs, operational projects, provision of basic services, ongoing institutional core support (such as equipment), scholarships, fellowships, study programs, individuals applying on their own behalf, or non-legal entities. Proposed activities should not compete with or substitute for regular World Bank instruments; the activity should be clearly distinguishable from the Bank’s regular programs.
Further Detail
Microsoft and the World Bank with the support of an external evaluation panel will shortlist innovative proposals. All shortlisted candidates will make presentations of their proposal at a regional workshop.
The short listing of proposals will be based on:
- Addressing unemployment
- Youth focused training on IT skills
- Innovativeness
- Sustainability
- Reliability
- Efficiency (cost-benefit ratio)
For more information, click here.
