The 2023 World Bank Youth Summit Competition invites young changemakers from all over the world to make their voices heard and share local solutions that can have a global impact to address development challenges in FCV countries and setbacks arising from climate change and lack thereof of energy access and jobs and skills.
One of the flagship components of the Youth Summit, the Pitch Competition is a call for innovative and action-oriented solutions from young people to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges through grassroots local solutions with the potential to make a global impact.
The theme of the Summit, ‘From the Ground Up. Local Solutions to Drive Global Impact’, reflects the WBG’s commitment to supporting local ownership, knowledge, and solutions as a key part of addressing global development challenges in the areas of fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV); jobs and skills; and climate and energy.
The World Bank Group Youth Summit (“Summit”) is the largest worldwide annual gathering of youth (18-35 years old) hosted by the WBG to engage participants from around the world on the most pressing topics facing their generation. As the Summit celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, its goal is to promote local solutions that have the potential to drive global impact.
Themes
The theme of the 2023 Summit, From the Ground Up: Local Solutions to Drive Global Impact, highlights development solutions that are generated locally, scaled up regionally, and elevated globally. This theme also reflects the World Bank Group’s commitment to supporting local ownership, knowledge, and solutions as key to addressing global development challenges.
As part of the launch of the 2023 Pitch Competition – a flagship component of the Youth Summit – this live event will showcase how young people can address some of the world’s most pressing challenges through local and grassroots solutions with the potential to make a global impact.
The 2023 World Bank Group Youth Summit Pitch Competition aims to address the following themes:
Solutions to address challenges faced by FCV affected regions.
Solutions to address climate change challenges and support energy transition and security.
Solutions focused on jobs creation and skill development for financial independence.
In addition to these core themes, we also encourage cross-cutting solutions that address the needs of indigenous peoples, marginalized communities, rural women, and other vulnerable groups facing local challenges.
Pillars
Pillar 1: Fragility, Conflict & Violence
Submissions under this pillar may include, but are not limited to:
Famine and drought: Solutions that address challenges faced by communities experiencing famine and drought, as well as local innovations that have reduced the likelihood/reversed/prevented the recurrence of these phenomena.
Food security: Solutions that focus on innovative, indigenous farming techniques and food management practices.
COVID-19 pandemic setbacks: Solutions that focus on building resilience and recovery in local communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Displacement & refugees: Local solutions for communities facing forced or voluntary displacement, and for those living in refugee camps or at risk of becoming refugees in the future.
Pillar 2: Climate Change & Energy Security
Submissions under this pillar may include, but are not limited to:
Climate resilience building: Solutions focused on working with local communities to build climate resilience.
Climate financing: Solutions focused on mobilizing funds for climate financing at the grassroots level, including private financing/private investments.
Energy transition: Solutions focused on energy transition at the community level
Energy efficiency: Solutions focused on improving energy efficiency or access to energy at the local level.
Alternative sources of energy: Solutions that utilize and promote non-traditional sources of energy at the local level.
Energy management and policies: Management techniques and policies that support low carbon energy usage, the transition to sustainable sources, or any other innovative approaches.
Adaptation to climate shocks: Solutions that help local communities adapt to, and mitigate the impacts of climate-related shocks such as natural disasters.
Pillar 3: Jobs & Skills (Financial Security)
Submissions under this pillar may include, but are not limited to:
Entrepreneurship: Solutions that support local entrepreneurship through programs, bootcamps, and empowerment initiatives.
Financial independence through: Solutions that aim to help local communities achieve financial independence saving schemes and other financial tools.
Education and skill development: Solutions that focus on skill development and education geared towards creating jobs.
Employment: Solutions that support employment generation activities for local communities.
Prizes
The winners will receive a certification, a physical trophy, a feature on World Bank Group communication channels, admission into the WBG Youth Summit Alumni Network, and a workshop focused on entrepreneurship. These prizes aim to recognize and support the winners’ achievements and future endeavors.
Why Participate?
Finalists will have the chance to connect with experts engaged in global problem- solving in the impact space, including both public and private sector leaders across the social, environmental, and economic inclusion landscapes.
They will also be offered an opportunity to pitch to potential investors, get tailored mentoring, and receive admission into the inaugural WBG Youth Summit Alumni Network, as well as other virtual and in-person initiatives to elevate the finalists’ story and solutions throughout the WBG network.
Additionally, this year, participants may have the opportunity to attend a workshop on idea development and solution implementation.
Further, selected participants who make it to the interview rounds but do not advance to the final pitch competition will be invited to present their ideas virtually during the Youth Summit lightning rounds.
Eligibility Criteria
The competition is open to individuals, or teams of up to five people aged 18-35, regardless of prior experience in a particular field or topic.
Participants can be students, as well as individuals who are currently working.
To be eligible to participate in the competition, individuals or teams (i.e., all team members) must be willing and able to commit the time necessary to implement their solution after the competition, if it is not already being implemented. They encourage diverse and gender-balanced team compositions.
Judging Criteria
Judges Choice Award and Honorable Mention: The team of judges will evaluate the presentation and the solution on clarity, scope, and relevance of the problem, solution and presentation; innovation and originality; feasibility of implementation; potential for impact; and compliance with application procedure/competition criteria/competition process.
Audience Choice Award: The number of votes from the live Youth Summit audience, and the level of engagement on social media post (in a set format that will be communicated to the finalists) will together be used to pick the Audience Choice.
Deadline 3-Mar-23 For more information, visit WBG Youth Summit Pitch Competition.