IDEAS WANTED
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.
If you could take advantage of today's technology and solve any problem or need, what would it be?
Would it support the WBG twin goals of ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity?
Contribute to building the inclusive tech-world of tomorrow by sharing your idea!
Deadline for Submission: 13 October 2017
To Participate Click Here
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About the Competition
Rethinking technology to ensure that all people across the world – today and in the future – are well equipped and have access to resources and opportunities to fully realize their potential and shape their own paths, is one the most complex and pressing challenges of our time. Everybody has a role to play – but no one is better placed than young people themselves as early adapters and most active users of technology to identify the obstacles faced and find ways to overcome them.
The purpose of this competition is to challenge young people to take advantage of today's rapid changing technology and solve the problems that matter to them most by crafting their own solutions so that they can build the future they want. In addition, the competition also aims to inspire and create a dialogue on innovative ways to address some of the problems and needs that have also been created by this 'technology revolutio', and that hinder sustainable development.
Why Participate?
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 the answer to both questions is yes, then the Youth Summit 2017 Competition gives you the opportunity to share your idea, connect with peers and high-level experts, and explore how to bring your idea to the next level.
Who Should Participate?
The competition is open to individuals or teams of 2 to 4 people aged 18 to 35, from all over the world. Prior entrepreneurial experience or business background is not required. All individuals with the drive to innovate are encouraged to participate, including professionals from business or policy, students and academics, NGO leaders, government officials and start-up founders.
How to Enter the Competition?
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 Jobs and Skills of Tomorrow
The rapid technological changes we are experiencing nowadays are revolutionizing the future of jobs and businesses. According to Oxford university, about half of today's jobs will disappear in the next 25 years. Automation is among the main protagonists of this story, as it is expected to eliminate many existing jobs. Thus, many economies face increasingly polarized labor markets and rising inequality, as technology augments higher skills while replacing routine jobs. But just as technology is destroying jobs, it is also creating new ones, generating a demand for new skills to be competitive in the 21st century. Outsourcing is bringing internet-based jobs to the poor and vulnerable. The diffusion of technology in the labor market promotes social and productive inclusion for women, people with disabilities and other disadvantaged populations. In addition, shared economy and other new business models are also disrupting the job market and posing new opportunities and challenges to traditional industries and government regulators. But what do these new jobs and business models mean for global poverty and inequality? How is technology affecting the job market in developing countries and how can their citizens better prepare for the new economy?
- Leveraging Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs)
Information and Communication Technologies ('ICTs') are positively impacting the world by reducing the cost of information, benefiting consumers, the financial sector, businesses, voters and governments. Technologies are increasing efficiency when existing activities are done at lower costs, faster and more conveniently. They drive innovation and take critical services such as health care, education, finance, infrastructure and disaster recovery to underserved and rural areas, boosting economic growth, increasing inclusion and promoting social development. Increased broadband connectivity, for example, facilitates international economic integration and access to news and knowledge. However, 60% of the world's population is still offline, with no access to the digital world and no opportunities of participating in the technological revolution. Large parts of these unconnected populations are predominantly rural, with low income and high level of illiteracy. Citizens and private sector, as well as governments and regulators all have a critical role to play in addressing these barriers and improving the reach and affordability of ICTs. How can all stakeholders contribute to maximizing the potential of ICTs in developing areas of the world? What are the lessons learned from around the globe in the promotion of development through digital technologies?
- Igniting Youth Entrepreneurship
All around the world, young people see entrepreneurship as a mean to achieve social and economic development. By lowering information barriers and costs, the Internet and other technologies increase experimentation and give rise to new opportunities for entrepreneurship, both in the ICT and the ICT-enabled sectors. Tech entrepreneurs are crucial in generating new business ideas that transform local and global communities. Youth with the right skills and facing fewer barriers to entry have and can improve on existing technologies by introducing superior business models or more efficient approaches, which leads to benefits in connectivity, employment and costs reduction around the globe. In addition, innovators disrupt markets and existing incumbents, avoiding the monopolization of industries and the concentration of power that can lead to inequality and unrest. But for young entrepreneurs to be able to succeed and have significant impact, a serious commitment from governments, private firms, educational institutions and the financial sector is needed. What can be done to spark the entrepreneurial potential inherent to the youth around the world? How can the next generation of tech entrepreneurs help unleash private sector-led growth, increase productivity and benefit their societies?
Deadlines & Process
Stage 1 – Submit your Idea (Deadline: 13 October 2017)
Participants must submit their proposal by October 13 2017, 11.59 pm EST. Proposals will be evaluated by an Expert Committee. Shortlisted individuals/teams will be announced by mid-October 2017 and will proceed to the next stage.
Stage 2 – Refine your Idea & Prepare your Pitch (Mid-October to Early-December 2017)
Individuals/teams shortlisted in Stage 1 will receive feedback on their proposals and may be asked to submit further information, refine their proposals and/or submit short 'pitching' videos. Based on that, the Expert Committee will select the 'Finalist' individuals/teams who will proceed to Stage 3.
Stage 3 – Pitch your Idea at the Youth Summit 2017 (4-5 December 2017)
Finalists will join the Youth Summit 2017, taking place at the World Bank Group Headquarters, Washington DC. The entire morning of the second day of the Summit (December 5th,2017) will be dedicated to showcase Finalists' ideas. Finalists will present their proposal in front of a Judging Panel and Summit attendees – presentations will be live-streamed. After the presentations, winners will be selected by a combination of votes from the judging panel and the audience.
Ready to Apply?
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 October 13, 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 World Bank Borrowing Country (IDA, IBRD or Blend).
- 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).
To write your proposal, you can refer to the Writing Tips, which provide a resource to help you structure and develop your proposal – referring to these tips is not mandatory proposals will be judged solely based on the Judging Criteria and Submission Rules.
3. Make sure that you are aware of, accept, and agree with the Competition Rules and Regulations.
4. Submit your proposal by 11:59 pm EST, October 13, 2017 through the online Competition Submission Form. In addition to the Proposal, you will be asked to provide some information about yourself and other team members – if applicable – including a short 200-word bio for each of you.
Any questions? Contact us at youthsummit@worldbank.org
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1 Comments
Thanks for sharing
Posted 26-03-2020 02:58