The World Bank Group and the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania today announced the winners of its fourth annual youth development finance competition, entitled Ideas for Action (I4A). This year, the contest received over 2,000 proposals from 124 countries on how to finance and implement the Sustainable Development Goals.
First Place: Mino Microbubble Technology (Indonesia) proposes a technology which increases dissolved oxygen in water to improve fish farm yields. A key to expanding fish farming is the availability of land and fresh water. The team’s proposal asserts that MINO Microbubble Technology can increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water to up to 7 ppm (while other systems go up to 3-4 ppm), and says it has been proven to increase fish yields by up to 40 percent when compared to existing aerator technology.
Second Place: Starlight (Rwanda) suggests a women-led business model to improve sustainable access to energy. In Sub-Saharan countries, electrification rates are low and the use of kerosene lamps is harmful to people’s health and to the environment. Starlight’s idea is to replace all kerosene lamps with solar powered lanterns in Rwanda and neighboring countries. They propose a system of recruiting, training and supporting local women to become clean-energy microentrepreneurs who would sell and distribute solar lights.
Third Place: Amal (United States) proposes a new legal software program and digital platform which allows women in Middle East and North Africa countries to understand which rights are available in their country of residence and to complete the paperwork required to secure access to these rights. Amal offers resources to legally secure these rights through centralized, automated document generation software.
Runners up (in alphabetical order): Al Derb (Mauritania/Qatar), Arab Youth Parliament for Water (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon), and Pennepidemic (USA/Republic of Korea).
Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order): Biogas (Colombia), Credit Locus (Ghana), Ecopack (China), Green Power Group (Tanzania), Kelasi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Limitless (Palestinian Territories), Rocapet (Mexico), and Safepal (Uganda).
The winners will present their proposals at the World Bank Group–International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in October 2018 in Bali, Indonesia, and at other international events. They will also be connected with experts relevant to their proposals, and The Wharton School will offer the winners training and opportunities to exchange knowledge.
The proposals were reviewed by a rigorous three-stage judging process. Ideas for Action is organized in partnership with Youth 2 Youth Community of the World Bank Group and the Young Americas Business Trust of the Organization of American States.
For more information, please check Ideas-For-Action Facebook and Website and see the flyer here
