Close Menu
  • Home
  • Conferences
    • Training
  • Scholarships
    • Undergraduate
    • Short Courses
    • Online Courses
    • Masters/Postgraduate
    • PhD
    • Postdoctoral
    • Study Abroad
      • Study in Africa
      • Study in Asia
      • Study in Australia
      • Study in Europe
      • Study in USA
  • Competitions
    • Awards
  • Grants
  • Fellowships
  • Jobs
    • Internships
    • Volunteering
  • Blog
    • OD Specials
      • OD Live Series
      • Young Person of the Month
      • Mentorship
        • OD Mentors
    • Success Stories
    • How-To
    • General Tips
  • ODIC 2023
    • ODIC 2023 Application
    • ODIC Judges
    • ODIC 2023 Winners
    • ODIC 2022 Winners
    • ODIC 2021 Winners
    • ODIC 2019 Winners
    • ODIC 2018 Winners
    • ODIC 2017 Winners
    • ODIC 2016 Winners
  • Search
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Australia and Oceania
    • America
    • Europe
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Tuesday, June 3
  • About Us
    • Partners
  • Submit Opportunity
  • Deadlines
  • Nominate #YPOM
  • Promote
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact
Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Instagram Telegram
Opportunity Desk
  • Home
  • Conferences
    • Training
  • Scholarships
    • Undergraduate
    • Short Courses
    • Online Courses
    • Masters/Postgraduate
    • PhD
    • Postdoctoral
    • Study Abroad
      • Study in Africa
      • Study in Asia
      • Study in Australia
      • Study in Europe
      • Study in USA
  • Competitions
    • Awards
  • Grants
  • Fellowships
  • Jobs
    • Internships
    • Volunteering
  • Blog
    • OD Specials
      • OD Live Series
      • Young Person of the Month
      • Mentorship
        • OD Mentors
    • Success Stories
    • How-To
    • General Tips
  • ODIC 2023
    • ODIC 2023 Application
    • ODIC Judges
    • ODIC 2023 Winners
    • ODIC 2022 Winners
    • ODIC 2021 Winners
    • ODIC 2019 Winners
    • ODIC 2018 Winners
    • ODIC 2017 Winners
    • ODIC 2016 Winners
  • Search
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Australia and Oceania
    • America
    • Europe
Opportunity Desk
Home»Search by Region»Africa»Great Blue Wall Challenge 2023 for Ocean-positive Startups & Social Enterprises

Great Blue Wall Challenge 2023 for Ocean-positive Startups & Social Enterprises

Jude OgarApril 3, 20234 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Telegram

Deadline: April 23, 2023

Applications are open for the Great Blue Wall Challenge 2023. This challenge calls for ocean-positive startups and social enterprises which contribute to the sustainability and resilience of the Western Indian Ocean, aligning with the Great Blue Wall Initiative and delivering benefits to people and nature.

Africa’s Great Blue Wall Initiative, led by Western Indian Ocean (WIO) countries, with support from IUCN and a coalition of partners, is a bold vision to conserve, protect and restore 2 million hectares of ocean and coastal ecosystems by 2030 while unlocking the development of a regenerative blue economy for the people and the planet. Innovations are required to enable the regeneration of the WIO while creating economic opportunity for the 70 million people dependent on these ecosystems.

Benefits

  • The 5-10 winners of the Great Blue Wall Challenge will be featured in both the Africa Climate Action Summit and the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 28) hosted by the United Arab Emirates.

Eligibility

  • Successful submissions have operations in coastal and marine areas of the ten original WIO countries of the Great Blue Wall: Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa and Tanzania.
  • Successful submissions must be beyond the ideation or prototype phase, with a measurable track record toward impact and scale. Current UpLink Top Innovators are primarily selected once they’ve reached the pilot to growth/scale phase of their operations.
  • Priority is given to for-profit start-up companies or social enterprises with a sustainable funding model. Not-for-profit organizations with a clearly defined, revenue generating project may also be considered.
  • Innovations must demonstrate the potential and desire to scale and/or the potential for replicability, and have a vision for achieving long-term financial viability, impact, and sustainability.

Selection Criteria

Submissions will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Nature-positive impact: Solutions should have a positive impact on seascape conservation and restoration, healthy ecosystems, biodiversity restoration and/or carbon sequestration.
  • Socio-economic impact: Solutions should demonstrate how they create local job opportunities and/or improve local livelihoods. This includes the sharing of financial and non-financial benefits with and empowerment of women, youth, and indigenous peoples. Appropriate social license to operate must be demonstrated, particularly in situations where tenure or access rights are of concern.
  • Innovation and potential for scale: The solution must be a tested and used approach – including combinations of innovative approaches with traditional knowledge and practices that can be scaled and replicated.
  • Governance & operating model: Solutions should have a legal entity attached to the project or technology, have a diverse* leadership team with the right capacity and skill set to deliver on the project’s mission. The inclusion of local stakeholders in the decision-making process is paramount. Teams should have effective strategies for managing regulatory and administrative hurdles.
  • Financially viable business model – Solutions need to demonstrate a sustainable business model and approach to revenue. They must show the extent to which the project has achieved financial viability and sustainable revenue streams or has a vision and plan for achieving it.​ A strong preference is given for those that offer investable opportunities for investors or philanthropic funders. 
  • Traction: Solutions should ideally have their first customers, or at a minimum letters of intent. The extent to which other organisations have been willing to demo, partner with, invest in or otherwise support this solution will be assessed.
  • Measurement and standards verification: Solutions should demonstrate a clear impact monitoring and evaluation framework, particularly for any socio-ecological impact claims being made. The metrics and indicators should be tracked transparently, relevant robust standards are referenced and applied, and/or independent credentialing and third-party verification received.​

Application

You can save your submission in draft and get back to it later but be sure to submit before the challenge deadline of April 23, 2023 (09:00am CEST).

Click here to apply

For more information, visit Great Blue Wall Challenge.

Share. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Pinterest Telegram
Previous ArticleVisegrad Fellowship Program 2023 for Scholars & Researchers (Funded)
Next Article Visegrad Scholarship Program 2023 for Masters Students & Researchers
Avatar photo
Jude Ogar
  • Website

Jude Ogar is an educator and youth development practitioner with years of experience working in the education and youth development space. He is passionate about the development of youth in Africa.

Related Posts

Foodtech Frontier Challenge 2025 for Startups

June 2, 2025

Call for Nominations: Forbes Sustainability Leaders 2025

June 2, 2025

Global Diversity Foundation (GDF) Conservation and Communities Fellowship 2025

June 2, 2025




OD YPOM – Gift Kisakye

Gift Kisakye From Uganda is OD Young Person of the month – May 2025. Read more.




Latest Posts
  • Ocean Wise Eco-Action Accelerator 2025 (up to $5,000)
  • North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Global E-STEM Awards 2025 (up to $50,000)
  • Foodtech Frontier Challenge 2025 for Startups
  • Call for Nominations: Forbes Sustainability Leaders 2025
  • Global Diversity Foundation (GDF) Conservation and Communities Fellowship 2025
  • Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) Teachers’ Leadership Institute 2025 (Fully-funded)
  • Do This If You Want to Find Your Purpose
  • 36 Scholarships and Opportunities for Professionals Across Various Sectors Closing in June – June 1, 2025
Follow on Twitter
Tweets by @OpportunityDesk
Follow Us on Social Media

facebook   Instagram   LinkedIn   Twitter   YouTube

Receive Opportunity Alerts!

Join over 100,000 email subscribers to receive weekly summary of opportunities. Sign up here.

Opportunity Desk Email Alerts!

Join over 100,000 email subscribers to receive weekly summary of opportunities. Sign up here.

Copyright © Opportunity Desk
  • About Us
    • Partners
  • Submit Opportunity
  • Deadlines
  • Nominate #YPOM
  • Promote
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

Ad Blocker Enabled!
Ad Blocker Enabled!
Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.