Strong, prosperous, and inclusive communities are built upon engaged and connected citizens who actively participate in shaping their social, economic, and political future. The mobile phone, the internet, new digital technologies, and innovations have created unprecedented access to services such as finance and education, as well as opportunities for citizens to engage in community action and democratic processes.
Yet, for the most marginalized who lack connectivity, these technologies can further exclude them from essential services and decision-making processes. Further, local and national governments too often fail to engage their citizens in real consultation and co-creation of public services. It is no surprise that trust in governments, corporations, and other institutions around the world is low and often decreasing—47 percent of global survey respondents to the Edelman Trust Barometer report distrusting their government. And while more and more countries have become democratic in the past decades, voting rates are declining in many countries.
Citizens and communities should be at the forefront of identifying civic problems and building effective solutions to address them. Technology is a key lever to help communities achieve this, thus creating better access to essential services such as housing and transportation, promoting real participation and inclusion for all, and reducing economic inequality and local displacement.
The Solve community aims to find and support tech-based solutions to ensure citizens and communities create and improve social inclusion and shared prosperity. To do so, the Solve community seeks solutions that:
Enable communities to participate meaningfully in designing and determining solutions around critical services including housing, transportation, water, sanitation, waste management, and security;
Make governments, corporations, and other institutions more accountable, transparent, and responsive to citizen feedback;
Engage communities to participate in the creation or advancement of economic growth for technologically disenfranchised groups; and
Ensure all citizens can overcome barriers to civic participation, including expanding access to information, internet, digital literacy, and services.
Solver Funding, Prize, and Partnership Eligibility for the Community-Driven Innovation Challenge
Solver Funding
All solutions selected for Solve’s four current Global Challenges will receive a $10,000 grant funded by Solve. Solver teams will be selected by a panel of cross-sector judges at Solve Challenge Finals during UN General Assembly week in New York City on September 22, 2019.
In addition to Solve funding, the following prizes are available to Solver teams selected for the Community Driven Innovation Challenge. To be considered for a prize, complete the prize-specific question within the application. You do not need to meet these requirements to apply to the Community-Driven Innovation Challenge:
AI Innovations Prize
Solutions that are propelled by advanced computing techniques or that leverage artificial intelligence to address the Challenge are eligible for the AI Innovations Prize. This prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Schmidt Futures. The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and our global community through neuroscience research and information technology. Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that bets early on people who will make our world better — helping people to achieve more for others by applying advanced science and technology thoughtfully and by working together across fields. Up to $500,000 will be granted across several recipients selected for the prize. Eligible Solver teams may be selected from any of Solve's four current Global Challenges.
GM Prize on Community-Driven Innovation
Solutions that foster prosperity and social mobility for underrepresented community members, including through STEM education, are eligible for the GM Prize on Community-Driven Innovation, made possible by General Motors. Up to $50,000 will be granted across two Solver teams within the Community-Driven Innovation Challenge.
Innovation for Women Prize
Solutions that use innovative technology to improve the quality of life for women and girls are eligible for the Innovation for Women Prize. This prize is funded by the Vodafone Americas Foundation, which supports technology-focused projects to advance the needs of women and girls, and to promote a world where women’s voices can be celebrated. Up to $75,000 will be granted across up to three Solver teams selected to receive the prize. Eligible Solver teams may be selected from any of Solve's four current Global Challenges.
Innovation for Refugee Inclusion Prize
Solutions that use innovation to advance economic, financial, and political inclusion of refugees in their hosting communities are eligible for this prize. The prize is founded and made possible by the Andan Foundation, a Swiss public-benefit foundation devoted to mobilizing the private sector’s involvement, creative power, resources, and entrepreneurial abilities towards public and private initiatives that create sustainable solutions for refugees. The foundation prioritizes innovative projects that expand refugees’ economic, financial, and political opportunities, as a way to reinforce their self-reliance and promote their peaceful inclusion within their host communities. Up to $50,000 will be granted to one or more recipients selected for the prize. Eligible Solver teams will be selected from the Community Driven Innovation Challenge.
Everytown for Gun Safety Prize
Holistic, community-based solutions that use technology to make communities safer are eligible for up to $100,000 in grant funding provided by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. Selected solutions will contribute to reductions in gun violence and its impacts through the use of data or digital technology. Successful approaches can address the upstream drivers of gun violence, such as poverty or access to firearms, and/or the downstream impacts, such as psychological trauma. Solutions that utilize data should source, maintain, and use that data ethically and responsibly. Solver team(s) will be selected to receive the prize from the Healthy Cities or Community-Driven Innovation Challenges.
Innospark Ventures Prize
The Innospark Ventures Prize is open to AI-based solutions from across the cybersecurity, education, healthcare, life sciences, and business services sectors focused in the United States. The prize is funded by Innospark Ventures, which invests in founders and ideas that leverage advanced artificial intelligence to create a differential and disruptive impact for our economy and society. Up to $100,000 will be granted to up to four eligible Solver teams from across any of Solve's current Global Challenges.
Morgridge Family Foundation Community-Driven Innovation Prize
Solutions that are boldly sparking change through innovation, disruption, and transformation are eligible for the Morgridge Family Foundation Community-Driven Innovation Prize. The Morgridge Family Foundation invests in leaders and organizations who are reimagining solutions to some of today's biggest challenges. Up to $25,000 will be granted to one Solver team selected within the Community-Driven Innovation Challenge.
UN Women She Innovates Prize for Gender-Responsive Innovation
Solutions that are women-led or use innovation to advance the needs of women and girls are eligible for the UN Women She Innovates Prize for Gender-Responsive Innovation, founded by UN Women Global Innovation Coalition for Change and made possible by Johnson & Johnson and EY. Up to $60,000 in She Innovates Prize funding will be provided across two recipients within Solve’s Healthy Cities and Community-Driven Innovation Challenges. Within Solve's Healthy Cities Challenge, Johnson & Johnson — which believes that a good idea can come from anyone, anywhere — will support one prize recipient with up to $30,000 in prize funding. The selected Healthy Cities solution should focus on a life-enhancing, innovative approach to delivering quality healthcare to vulnerable populations, especially through community health workers and clinics.
