Applications for the Global Development Awards Competition are being accepted right now. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Global Development Awards Competition
With the kind support of the Japanese Ministry of Finance, GDN (Global Development Network) launched an innovative awards program known as the Global Development Awards Competition.
The awards recognize exceptional research with a focus on policy, support the enhancement of researchers’ skills in low- and middle-income nations, and finance innovative social development programs that support underprivileged groups in emerging countries. The annual competition features a new and contemporary topic every year.
Categories of Global Development Awards Competition:
The year 2024 will include two categories:
- The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development: A competitive research grant program, the Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) program identifies and funds outstanding research projects with clear policy implications for addressing development issues as well as a high potential for scientific quality. Senior researchers review applications first, followed by junior researchers. The research teams also get access to a Scientific and Technical Advisor during the course of their studies, who is selected depending on the study’s topic.
- The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project: A competitive funding program called the Japanese Award for Most Creative Development Project (MIDP) helps Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in low-income nations recognize the innovative approach to their projects. To test their innovative idea on a larger scale, the first-place winner is also qualified to vie for an additional award from the Japan Social Development Fund, worth up to US$ 200,000.
Benefits of Global Development Awards Competition
The Japan Prize for Outstanding Developmental Research:
- A reward worth $30,000 will be given to the first-place winner.
- Grants of $20,000 and $10,000 will be given to the winners of the second and third places, respectively.
- The money will be used to support the winners’ suggested research projects as they near completion.
- Award recipients will also be matched with a top scholar in their field who will serve as a Scientific and Technical Advisor.
The Japanese prize for the most inventive growth initiatives:
- Each of the two first-place winners for each subject will get a reward worth $50,000.
- A gift of $25,000 USD will be given to the second place winner.
- A Technical Advisor will also be assigned to each awardee for the duration of the grant’s execution.
- The first-place winner is also eligible to compete for a grant of up to $200,000 from the Japan Social Development Fund to test out their creative concept on a broader scale.
Global Development Awards Competition Requirments
The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD):
- Open to scientists who are nationals or long-term residents of low- or middle-income nations. At any time throughout the competition, candidates may be required to provide documentation with legal standing as proof of their citizenship and residency.
- By the end of 2024, the maximum age for all applicants will be 45 years old. People who are older than 15 as of January 1, 2024, are ineligible to apply.
- Unless it is made apparent how extra funds granted by the ORG would strengthen the current funds for the successful completion of the study, the proposal should not be receiving or slated to receive funding from other sources in order to be eligible for consideration by the ORG.
- Staff members of multilateral and bilateral organizations (such as UKAid, the World Bank, the IMF, the IADB, UN agencies, etc.) are not eligible.
The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project:
- Open to the implementation of development projects in low- and middle-income nations
- Respect the environmental and social norms and the WB environmental and social framework.
- A non-profit, NGO, or CSO having its headquarters in one of the qualifying countries must oversee the initiative.
- To be eligible, a project’s implications must have begun by June 2023 or earlier. Submissions for projects that have just begun, ideas for Olympic projects, feasibility studies, or baseline analyses will not be taken into consideration. Submissions intended to partially or entirely sponsor conferences will not be taken into account.
- Applications from past years may reapply (with the exception of winners), but they must revise their applications to reflect any changes to the project.
- The MIDP has not before awarded any prizes.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
16 June, 2024
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