OpenIDEO's Amplify Agricultural Innovation Challenge (Due 5/2/16)

Around the world, millions of farmers work tirelessly to feed their families and communities. But in spite of their efforts, over 42% of the food these farmers produce is never consumed. Instead, it is lost during harvest, or on the journey from farm to market. The consequences are immense – closing this gap has the potential to feed one billion people and improve livelihoods for farmers. 


For our fifth OpenIDEO Amplify challenge, we are calling on entrepreneurs, NGOs, designers and social innovators to develop solutions that reduce waste and improve the livelihoods of small scale farmers. We are focusing on a few key areas where new solutions can have a big impact, including: improving access to markets, ensuring farmers have access to relevant information, using technology in new ways and financial services. The Amplify challenge calls for entrepreneurs, designers, innovators, and NGOs to submit their ideas. OpenIDEO asks:

“How might we improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers by reducing food waste and spoilage?”

OpenIDEO seeks contestants who offer new ideas and approaches and who have previous experience in one of the 27 priority countries


From now until May 2nd at 9 am PDT, you can add your idea for a chance to win a grant of between $50,000 and $150,000, and ongoing design support from IDEO.org. Learn more about our challenges here – we hope you share news of this opportunity widely with your networks.

More information at https://impactdesignhub.org/2016/04/14/openideos-amplify-challenge-focuses-on-agricultural-innovation/ 

USAID HESN TechCon 2016 Innovation Marketplace

Students and young professionals around the world are forging new solutions to global development needs. By applying novel approaches to Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (STIP), these innovative projects challenge existing assumptions and advance our understanding of what works in global development. The Innovation Marketplace, hosted by the U.S. Global Development Lab, will showcase the talent of students and young innovators who are using STIP to tackle global challenges.

The Innovation Marketplace will take place on November 10th –12th on MIT’s campus, as a feature of the US Agency for International Development Higher Education Solutions Network’s (HESN) TechCon 2016. Throughout the course of the competition, individuals or teams of students, young professionals, or postdoctoral researchers will have the opportunity to gain exposure, build support for their innovative product, service, or research, receive technical feedback, and practice their pitching skills. Although all accepted applicants will be able to attend TechCon, one winner from each category will go on to receive the grand prize after the final round.

 Visit tiny.cc/InnovationM for links and guidelines.