Competition Closed

Congratulations to this year's winners!

• Judges' Vote: Plant-based Malnutrition Treatment by Power of Nutrition
• Popular Vote: Solar PV Charged Battery Swapping Stations for Gig Drivers in Sri Lanka by Chemonics International

​Watch the Innovation Competition Showcase recording on the platform.

Congratulations to this year's finalists! 

• "Plant-Based Malnutrition Treatment", Power of Nutrition
• "Solar PV Charged Battery Swapping Stations for Gig Drivers in Sri Lanka", Chemonics International
• "Dual-impact Solution for Post-War Soil Recovery", Chemonics (AGRO) and Ukrainian Society of Soil Scientists and Agrochemists
• "AI for a Better World by DevelopMetrics", DevelopMetrics

All finalists have the opportunity to present and discuss their innovations on a virtual panel at our Conference on Friday, April 26 at 2:00 PM ET. Come hear what they have to say and then vote for your favorite! You can register to attend virtually here.


​Thank you to our Judges!

The SID-US Innovation Competition invites anyone in the international development community anywhere in the world to pitch their innovative ideas, early-stage projects, and actionable solutions that will involve and empower locally-led actors to transform development. Individuals and teams may participate in this Competition, and your innovation should address our 2024 Conference theme, World in Crisis: Sparks of Hope.  

During the conference, finalists will be featured in a virtual Breakout Session. The winning and runner-up entries will be featured in a virtual library. The overall winners will be announced during the Closing Plenary at the Annual Conference on April 26, 2024. 

IMPORTANT: There is a maximum of two entries per organization. The first two entries received will be the ones submitted to the Competition unless the organization indicates otherwise. 

Need examples? Click here to see the 2020 Innovation Competition entries and the 2023 Innovation Competition Showcase on YouTube.

Round 2 Judging Panel

2024 Innovation Competition Judging Panel Round 2 by Society for International Development - United States

Round 1 Judging Panel

2024 Innovation Competition Judging Panel by Society for International Development - United States

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​​​How to Participate​

Submit your entry here.

​Entries must be submitted by Thursday, March 28 at 11:59 PM EDT.     
​
All entries must include the following items. Entries will be automatically disqualified if missing any of the four items below. 

1. Innovation title 
2. Presenter(s) name(s) 
3. Short 100-word summary about the innovation that relates to the conference theme.  
4.  Pitch deck (max of 5 slides)*  

 
*Pitch Deck / Required Content: 

• Vision, Opportunity, Mission  
• Market  
• Solution  
• Financial Impact  
• Social Impact  

Pitch Deck / Optional Content: 

• ​​Competitive Advantage  
• Go-to-Market Strategy  
• Next Steps  

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​​​Selection Process

The competition will take place in two rounds.

Round 1: Participants will present their pitch.

• Finalists will demonstrate innovative ideas to solve problems facing the developing world.
• Ideas should focus on our conference theme, World in Crisis: Sparks of Hope. 
• SID-US will contact those finalists proceeding to the next round by April 19, 2024.
  
  

Round 2: The second round takes place during the SID-US Annual Conference as a second set of judges will assess the innovations presented and vote on the winner(s).  

• Finalists will be required to talk about their innovation during a virtual Breakout Session.  
• Conference attendees will be able to vote for a “Best in Show" during the Conference. 
• Winners will be announced during the Closing Plenary at the Conference on April 26. 

Selection Criteria: The entries will be rated on the following criteria.

• Innovation/Resources
• Product Definition
• Presentation & Other Strengths
• Problem Definition
• Sustainability
• User & Customer Definition

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Additional Information

• Submissions sent after the deadline of March 28 at 11:59 PM EDT will not be considered. 
• You do not need to be a SID-US member to participation in the Innovation Competition. This Competition is open to anyone, and we particularly encourage students to bring the perspective and ideas of the next generation of development practitioners. 
• Finalists will have their pitch decks posted in a virtual library on the SID-US Conference platform.  
• SID-US has the right to publish all entries on its website and social media and will credit the submitter.  
• Finalists and winners will receive certificates from SID-US. 
• No monetary award will be associated with the Competition. 
• Finalists may attend the Annual Conference (in person or virtually) free of charge.  
• Questions regarding the Competition should be directed to: [email protected].   

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Make Your Idea SMART

This is a competition about ideas. Your project does not need to be started or completed, but it does need to demonstrate clear objectives and measurable progress. Please take into account these SMART goals: 

Specific

• Is the objective clear?

Measurable  

• Does the model have the potential for future growth? 
• Does the project have performance metrics and evaluation incorporated into its plan? 

Achievable 

• What is the cost-benefit analysis of the project? 
• Does it responsibly make use of funding?  
• Will projections show its economic viability?  
• Does the project have any return value?  
• How do costs project out beyond the first year? 

Relevant  

• Are solutions consciously designed to understand local contexts? 
• Are there efforts made to promote inclusivity and collaboration with area partners?  
• Will there be accountable oversight of the projects and by whom? 
• Does this project serve an existing local demand?  
• Is there a local appeal? 

Time-bound 

• What is the timeline for your idea to put into a project? 
• At what time intervals (3 months, 6 months, 1 year, etc)?