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Published: 29 Dec 2022 583 views
Over the last several decades, we have been witnessing significant economic growth in many parts of the world. At the same time, we are seeing a rise in inequality, an exacerbating climate crisis and a rising sense of disempowerment. This trend can be described as the decoupling of economic prosperity from social prosperity and environmental sustainability. The Global Solutions Initiative aims to address this trend by generating proposals to better align economic and political activities with environmental sustainability and social prosperity. With the Young Global Changers Recoupling Awards we want to recognize and reward youth-led projects and initiatives from around the world which embody this recoupling-approach.
Recoupling-projects must be guided by a people-centric approach, that puts the needs and voices of their stakeholders, customers and communities at the center. The jury will be looking for particularly novel, unique and original approaches or projects that address specific issues which have previously been neglected. Projects must be beyond the idea phase and can include social businesses as well as nonprofit activities. (You can find examples of previous projects here.)
The Global Solutions Initiative is a global collaborative enterprise comprised of a network of world-renowned think tanks. It proposes policy responses to major global problems, addressed by the G20, the G7 and other global governance fora.
| Application Deadline | 26 Jan 2023 |
| Country to study | Germany |
| Type | Contest |
| Sponsor | Global Solutions Initiative |
| Gender | Men and Women |
The Global Solutions Initiative aims to address this trend by generating proposals to better align economic and political activities with environmental sustainability and social prosperity. With the Young Global Changers Recoupling Award we want to honor, and support projects that embody this approach. We want to draw attention to best practices but also learn from them.
We are offering a full scholarship* for the finalists of the Young Global Changers Recoupling Awards 2023 to come to Berlin and attend the 2023 Global Solutions Summit.
The scholarship includes the following:
Travel expenses to and from Berlin**
Accommodation for the time of the Global Solutions Summit (four nights, May 13-17, 2023)***
Free admission to the Global Solutions Summit 2023
Networking opportunities with great minds from academia, business, politics & civil society
Access to an exclusive global network of like-minded Young Global Changers
Possibilities for further engagement
*Please note that all expenses must be paid upfront and will be reimbursed within 6 weeks after the Global Solutions Summit. Participants are responsible for submitting reimbursement claims. Currency fluctuations may lead to small changes in the total amount reimbursed.
** Costs for train journeys or flights in economy class as well as visa costs can be reimbursed. Additional costs may apply, which will not be covered by the scholarship (this may include local transportation in Berlin, food, health or travel insurance and more).
***The hotel will be arranged and paid for by the Global Solutions Initiative. It will be located in the vicinity of the summit venue.
Please note that traveling to Berlin will only be possible if the local health and security situation allows!
Young entrepreneurs or innovators who have started or are involved in a leading role in a social enterprise that aims at aligning economic activity with environmental sustainability and social prosperity.
Young business leaders aiming at changing “business as usual” from the inside (“intrapreneurs”).
Young non-profit actors, community organizers, advocacy leaders, campaigners, or implementers of social, economic, or environmental change on a local, regional or even on the global level.
The project, business or initiative that you apply with needs to aim at recoupling, i.e. a better alignment of economic or political activities with social well-being and environmental sustainability.
The applicant should have a leading position in the project/initiative they are applying with. (e.g. founder, co-founder, project-lead, initiator or a similar role.)
The applicant needs to be between the ages of 18 and 35.
Applicants need to be willing and motivated to become active members of a global network which aims at bringing about lasting global change.
Are you part of such a project or initiative? Are you heading an innovative social start-up? Are you trying to change your organization from the inside? Are you supporting people in need? Are you pushing or advocating for change? Tell us about it and apply now!
– Download “Assessment of Application” as PDF –
Each applicant is required to write a short description of their project or initiative and explain briefly how their activities promote “Recoupling”, i. e., how their initiatives provide benefits for the environment, their communities, or the society at large. Applicants are also required to create a video version of their project presentation (5-minute maximum). The top presentations will presented on the Global Solutions Initiative website.
From these projects, a minimum of 10 finalists will be selected to present at the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin. Projects will be evaluated based on the below judging rubric.
1. Presentation
a) Two Short Project Descriptions
Each applicant is expected to provide two short descriptions of their projects. The first one is about the project itself, its mission, what you are trying to achieve and how. The second description should address how the project or initiative specifically contributes to recoupling, i.e. to a better alignment of economic or political activities with social needs and environmental sustainability.
b) One Video Pitch
Each applicant is expected to submit a video (five minutes or shorter). The video should underline and visualize an interesting aspect of the initiative or project, this can be a re-statement of the core mission and your aims, but it can also be impressions from the day-to-day work that you do, a customer journey, testimonials, an interview, stakeholder viewpoints or other perspectives. Whatever you think will give the jury and the broader public a good impression of what it is that you do, what you are trying to achieve, how you are going about this and/or how you are contributing to recoupling. You can upload a pre-existing video, an image film or something you produce specifically for the application. You are welcome to use slides, bullet points, photos, animations or other pre-recorded material in the videos. Be creative!
2. Recoupling Approach
From the material that you provide the jury will assess how well your project contributes to a better alignment of economic or political activities with social needs and environmental sustainability. Projects can address both domains, the social as well as the environmental. However, you may choose to emphasize one over the other. The jury may choose well-balanced projects that do well in both domains alongside projects that have a strong but well-founded focus on only one of the two.
a) Social Domain (People-Centered)
How well does the project reflect a people-centric approach? How does it put the needs and voices of their stakeholders, customers, workers and/or communities at the center? What is the aspired and the actual impact on the lives of those who are affected by the project? Who is included/excluded? Which groups benefit, which don’t (different genders, races, and socioeconomic groups)??How well are individuals or groups empowered through the project?
Timeline
December 15, 2022: Application Start
JANUARY 26, 2023: Application Deadline
FEBRUARY 23, 2023: Announce Top 50
MARCH 23, 2023: Announce Finalists
MAY 15 – 16, 2023: Finals in Berlin
Step 1:
Complete the online application form and include all relevant information about your project. There are no costs associated with the application. For a successful submission the following information and material will need to be provided:
Step 2:
The selection and evaluation of the projects will be done by a jury. Of all projects submitted, the best 50 will be presented on our website, a minimum of 10 projects will be selected for the final round in Berlin.
Step 3:
The best initiatives among the finalists will be presented in front of a live jury of experts and a global audience at the Global Solutions Summit 2023 on May 15/16 in Berlin. The pitch can be held digitally or on-site. (It will not be a disadvantage if one of the finalists is not able to attend the summit in Berlin in person.)
– Download “Important Tips on How to Apply Successfully” as PDF –
– Download “Submission Checklist” as PDF –
For more details visit: Global Solution Initiative website.