Tag Archives: competitions

ASHOKA POWER OF LOCAL CHALLENGE FOR YOUNG CHANGEMAKERS ($60,000 CASH PRIZE)

Application Deadline: February 26, 2025

LOCATION: Africa

Applications for the Power of Local Challenge are now open! They are looking for small business ecosystem builders—organizations that provide small businesses with diverse and equitable opportunities like resources, tools, networking, and more. If this sounds like you, then you’re in the right place!

ELIGIBILITY:

Country of Impact: Your initiative must be primarily impacting at least one of the following countries: Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.  

Language: Your application should be fully written and submitted in English (Applicants, especially finalists, will be expected to engage in activities that require English proficiency).  

Exclusions: Employees and their children and grandchildren of the program partner, Ashoka, or its affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies are NOT eligible to apply. 

Additional Criteria: If your solution has not been implemented at scale; you must have a clear business plan and a minimum-viable solution (prototype, pilot, or another proof of concept).  

You may only submit 1 application per organization. 

You must be 18 or above by the application deadline, on February 26th, 2025.

BENEFIT:

A total of 11 winners will be awarded a cash prize of up to $60,000 as follows: 

We will award a minimum of 2 winners in each geographical region: Latin America, East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, East Asia.  

Ten Winners will receive $15,000 each. 

One Grand Prize Winner will be selected and will receive $60,000

APPLY

UN PERMANENT FORUM ON PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Application Deadline: 1st November 2024

LOCATION: Africa

As a newly established mechanism, the Permanent Forum is in the process of getting recognition and establishing its presence. This competition invites for the creation of a logo that will serve as both a distinctive symbol for the Permanent Forum and a reflection of the aspirations and essence of the people it represents.

ELIGIBILITY:

The competition is opened to participants from all ages and nationalities, that are Africans or identify as people of African descent.

Be submitted in vector format preferably (.ai,.svg or .eps). If the participant cannot submit it in vector format, a transparent TIF of the file in high quality must be sent (a minimum of 2500px).

If the visual includes colours (a limited color palette is recommended), please also submit a single ink version. Please keep in mind that the file will be printed on different media and materials.

The design should be scalable, as it will be used at a wide range of sizes.

The Font used must support non-Latin alphabet, as the logo will be used in communications in all United Nations official languages, namely: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. For this purpose, the contestant may use the brand font of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Futura Std for the design, which would make the translation of the logo easier. The contestant can propose different layouts for using the type on the design, taking into account that the design needs to work in the other UN languages (the logo concept must still work when flipped for Arabic).

Please do not use the UN emblem in your designs, including portions of the UN emblem.

BENEFIT:

The winner will be announced at the end of the year. The winner will be contacted before the announcement. The winner will receive:

An all-expenses paid trip to New York to participate in the 4th session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent taking place from 14 to 17 April 2025. The winner will also be presented during the opening ceremony of the 4th session.

Support the organization of an art exhibition during the session (provided that the winner has a portfolio that could be showcased in line with relevant UN policies)

APPLY