The SDG Challenge Prize is an innovation initiative that aims to promote citizens’ engagement and to bring peoples’ voice in the policies, services and decision
The key initial areas for piloting include SDGs, HIV and Aids and behaviours of young people as well as education and unemployment. It is expected to create solutions and engagement in the topics at stake coming directly from those closest to the problems as a way to accelerate change. The initiative will help to access new and alternative sources of data and solutions; new ideas to address specific issues relating to development challenges and new ways of identifying issues at stake. Tasks of the competition were designed by alumni and students of the National University of Lesotho thus seeking not only solutions but also challenges from the people most affected by it.
The SDG Challenge Prize consist of a monetary award from US$500 to US$ 2,000 depending on the type and scope of innovation as well as an additional training package on entrepreneurship and project management skills. Entries to the competition will be reviewed and selected by a Jury that will assess if the proposed solutions represent a substantive new and innovative contribution to solving the stated problems. We are not necessarily looking for completely new products, technologies, or services, but also for improvements to existing solutions, combining or implementing these in new ways. If applicable, it is envisaged that the winners’ ideas should be funded and realised throughout the partnership agreements between National University of Lesotho and / or an NGO that will be selected for partnering in this process.