UNDP launches youth innovation challenge, calls for applicants

The United Nations Development Program has launched the Youth Innovation Challenge, which awards up to $10,000 to implement ideas that can achieve peace in the country.

The United Nations Development Program has launched the Youth Innovation Challenge, which awards up to $10,000 to implement ideas that can achieve peace in the country.

The competition is focused specifically on ideas, not funding proposals, UNDP said in a statement, and the most innovative, scalable, and financially sustainable plans will win prizes ranging from US$10,000 to US$4,000 to help implement pilot versions of their ideas.

“We want to see South Sudan through your eyes – the eyes of young people who have fresh points of view and the creativity to tackle the complex issues you and your peers face,” said UNDP Acting Country Director Jean-Luc Stalon in opening remarks to participants at the workshop.

Interested youth who did not attend the introduction workshop can still enter the competition by submitting their ideas by 6 September 2016 by emailing innovation.ss@undp.org, or calling 0912581487. Semi-finalists will be announced in late September and invited to a social innovation hackathon to further refine their ideas.

Additional information on the Youth Innovation Challenge for Peace, including official rules and entry forms can be found on UNDP’s website: www.bit.ly/innovationcompetition