June 5, 2023
by In the ongoing battle against poverty, creative and impactful solutions are essential to make a significant difference. D-Prize, an annual competition, has emerged as a platform that empowers social entrepreneurs and innovators to combat poverty through distribution.
By providing grants of up to US$20,000, D-Prize aims to seed new ventures that can effectively distribute proven poverty interventions across various sectors. With challenges encompassing health, water, education, agriculture, livelihoods, energy, and public services, D-Prize calls upon ambitious individuals to tackle the world’s most pressing issues. The regular submission deadline is June 4th, with an extended deadline available until June 24th for registered applicants.
D-Prize recognizes the power of effective distribution networks in ensuring that poverty interventions reach the people who need them the most. While countless innovative solutions have been developed to address poverty-related challenges, many struggle to gain widespread adoption due to inadequate distribution mechanisms. The D-Prize initiative seeks to bridge this gap by supporting organizations prioritising the last-mile delivery of proven interventions.
D-Prize spans many sectors, acknowledging that poverty is a multi-faceted issue that demands comprehensive solutions. The challenges put forth by D-Prize cover critical areas such as health, water, education, agriculture, livelihoods, energy, and public services.
- Health: D-Prize seeks solutions that improve access to essential healthcare services, enhance preventive measures, or combat specific health issues prevalent in impoverished communities.
- Water: Addressing the scarcity of clean water, D-Prize welcomes initiatives that focus on water purification, efficient distribution systems, or innovative ways to harvest and store water in underserved areas.
- Education: To enhance access to quality education, D-Prize encourages ventures that improve literacy rates, develop affordable educational resources, or leverage technology to reach remote or marginalized populations.
- Agriculture: In a world grappling with food insecurity, D-Prize invites innovations that strengthen agricultural practices, increase productivity, improve post-harvest management, or enhance market linkages for smallholder farmers.
- Livelihoods: D-Prize acknowledges the importance of sustainable livelihoods and welcomes ideas that empower individuals and communities through skills training, job creation, entrepreneurship, or financial inclusion initiatives.
- Energy: Given the critical role energy plays in poverty alleviation, D-Prize seeks ventures that expand access to affordable, clean, and reliable energy sources, particularly in off-grid or underserved areas.
- Public Services: D-Prize recognizes that efficient and accessible public services are crucial for poverty reduction. As such, it encourages innovations that improve the delivery of basic services such as transportation, waste management, healthcare, and education.
The application process for D-Prize is designed to be simple and accessible. Interested individuals or teams must submit a two-page concept note outlining their distribution-focused intervention and a resume or CV. Shortlisted applicants then proceed to the final round, where they are invited to submit a full proposal for evaluation.
Selected winners receive up to US$20,000 in funding to launch or scale their distribution-focused ventures. Alongside the financial support, D-Prize provides winners with customized mentorship, hands-on support, and access to a network of like-minded individuals and organizations committed to poverty alleviation.
How To Apply
