The 2019 World Bank Youth Summit Competition challenges young social entrepreneurs to submit innovative proposals for scalable enterprises that leverage smart technology to build sustainable and inclusive cities that will serve the needs of 1 million people by 2030. The World Bank Group wants to hear from young changemakers across the globe on how we can leverage the growth of cities for more sustainable and inclusive communities.

By 2030, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, with the majority of growth in developing countries. Cities are unprecedented hubs of opportunity, but also present some of the most complex and pressing challenges of our time. Everyone has a role to play to address these challenges – governments, international organizations, non-profits, local communities, and individuals. However, there is no one in a better place than young people to innovate and overcome the obstacles faced in an era of fast-paced, technology-driven change.

The 2019 Youth Summit Competition challenges young people to harness smart technology to:

1. Address the rising impacts of climate change and pollution in urban cities; and/or
2. Promote inclusive economic growth.

The competition provides a forum for young people to identify problems in their communities. Thus, craft innovative solutions for smarter and more resilient cities. It aims to stimulate entrepreneurial problem solving as well as create a dialogue on innovative ways to unlock obstacles that have traditionally hindered investment in smart cities.

Winners of World Bank Youth Summit 2019 Social Entrepreneurship Competition

The competition will occur in three stages, from primary selection to video pitching and finally live pitching. A judging panel of experts will decide the candidates advancing to each stage. The shortlisted finalists for the live pitching session will receive a fully funded trip to Washington, DC to attend the Youth Summit 2019. Further, the World Bank will cover finalists’ accommodation and meals for the duration of the event(3 nights).

The finalists will pitch their ideas, while the jury of experts decides the winner. The winner will receive a grand prize to realize their idea.

Eligibility for the World Bank Youth Summit 2019

The World Bank Youth Social Entrepreneurship Competition is open to individuals from countries all over the world. Further, the candidates wishing to participate in the entrepreneurial competition must have a profile that aligns with the World Bank Youth Competition’s requirements. The candidates:

• Must be of age between 18-35 years.
• Further, the candidates may participate individually or in a team consisting no more than 4 people
• Nor the candidates require prior entrepreneurial experience or business background.
• Further, the youth participating should have the drive to innovate. This includes professionals, students, and academics, NGO leaders, government officials as well as start-up founders.
• However, active staffs, interns and consultant of the World Bank are not eligible to participate.

How to apply for the World Bank Youth Summit: Social Entrepreneurship Competition?

Applicants should propose an innovative and action-oriented idea leveraging data technology to address pollution and climate change or facilitate the inclusion of the urban poor in cities.

The proposed solution (i) can be aimed at business or service (e.g. product, service, program, initiative, etc.); (ii) should solve a specific problem statement or challenge; (iii) explains the proposal’s proof-of-concept and impact to date; and (iv) addresses at least one of the smart and resilient cities subtheme.

Participants must submit their proposal via the online submission form before the deadline. A panel of experts will review the proposal and shortlist the candidates. The shortlisted candidates will receive feedback to further refine their idea and submit a pitch video. The committee will then select the finalists for the third stage of the competition.

For the third stage, the World Bank Group will invite the finalists to 2019 Youth Summit in its headquarter in Washington, DC. Finalists will showcase their proposals on the second day of the Summit, pitching their proposal in front of a judging panel, attending delegates, and a live-streamed online audience.

The judging panel will decide one winner to receive the grand prize.

Deadline

Participants can submit their proposal for the World Bank Youth Summit 2019 Social Entrepreneurship Competition until 23:59 ET, 1 October 2019. Applications arriving after the deadline are not valid.