Deadline: 25-Feb-2026
The Macquarie Community Resilience Prize is a US$1,000,000 global initiative supporting technology-enabled solutions for climate resilience and workforce development. Targeted at Brazil, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, the prize funds innovations in infrastructure, agriculture, and hazard reduction while providing executive coaching and mentorship.
The Macquarie Community Resilience Prize identifies and scales high-impact, technology-driven solutions that protect communities from the escalating risks of climate change. By combining significant financial capital with corporate mentorship, the program strengthens local ecosystems against environmental and economic instability.
Why It Matters: Climate Adaptation and Economic Growth
This initiative addresses the urgent need for local adaptation strategies in regions most vulnerable to climate volatility.
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Infrastructure Protection: Hardens critical systems—electricity and water—against extreme weather.
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Economic Transition: Upskills workers in “green trades,” ensuring the workforce can maintain and build resilient infrastructure.
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Natural Ecosystem Restoration: Supports agricultural shifts that protect biodiversity while securing food supplies.
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Scalable Funding Models: Pilots new employment and financing models to sustain long-term resilience work.
Key Concepts and Key Pillars
The program focuses on five core areas of climate resilience:
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Infrastructure Resilience: Protecting technical systems (electrical, water, and communications) from disruption.
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Hazard Risk Reduction: Mitigating the impact of wildfires, flooding, drought, and extreme heat.
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Climate-Adapted Agriculture: Developing food systems that are resilient to changing climates while restoring natural environments.
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Workforce Development: Training and upskilling workers in trades essential for community adaptation.
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Employment Models: Creating sustainable funding and job structures to support permanent resilience transitions.
Who is Eligible?
The prize is open to a variety of organizational structures, provided they meet specific geographic and technical criteria.
Eligible Organizations:
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Non-Profit Organizations and NGOs.
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Social Enterprises and For-Profit companies.
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Academic Institutions and Research Centers.
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Hybrid Models combining social and commercial goals.
Mandatory Requirements:
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Geography: Solutions must be headquartered or deployed in Brazil, Australia, or the Pacific Islands.
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Technology Focus: The solution must be “technology-enabled.
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Maturity Level: Must be at the Pilot Stage or higher. Concepts and early prototypes are ineligible.
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Team: At least one Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) team member is required.
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Language: All applications and documentation must be in English.
Government Participation:
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Government entities cannot apply as lead applicants.
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Eligible organizations may partner with government agencies, provided a non-government Team Lead manages the application.
Prize Details and Support Program
Winners receive a comprehensive package designed for institutional scaling:
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Financial Award: Access to a US$1,000,000 prize pool. Individual grants range from US$50,000 to US$250,000.
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Needs Assessment: A tailored call to identify specific organizational hurdles.
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Executive Coaching: Professional leadership development for the team.
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Mentorship Matchmaking: Direct access to Macquarie Group employees for technical and business guidance.
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Resource Access: Specialized workshops and long-term impact resources.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
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Confirm Stage: Ensure your solution is at the pilot stage with active deployment or data.
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Select Region: Define your impact in Brazil, Australia, or the Pacific Islands.
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Form Partnerships: If working with the public sector, establish a non-government lead.
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Draft Proposal: Clearly articulate how your technology reduces climate risk or develops the workforce.
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Submit Online: Complete the English-language application through the official prize portal.
Common Mistakes and Success Tips
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Applying with a Concept: The prize strictly excludes “idea-phase” projects. You must show evidence of a working pilot.
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Ignoring the Workforce Pillar: Many applicants focus only on “tech.” Including a plan for training or upskilling workers increases competitiveness.
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Vague Tech Integration: Be explicit about how technology (software, hardware, or digital tools) enables your resilience solution.
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Tip: Focus on “Interconnected Resilience.” Solutions that help both the environment (e.g., drought-resistant farming) and the local economy (e.g., new jobs) are high priority.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can a startup from the United States apply if the solution is deployed in Brazil?
Yes. The solution must be headquartered OR deployed in the target regions (Brazil, Australia, Pacific Islands).
2. What is considered a “Pilot Stage” solution?
A pilot stage solution has moved beyond the prototype; it is being tested in a real-world environment with actual users or beneficiaries.
3. Is the prize only for non-profits?
No. For-profit, non-profit, and hybrid business models are all eligible and encouraged to apply.
4. Are government-led projects eligible?
A government entity cannot be the lead applicant. They can be partners, but the primary applicant and Team Lead must be from an eligible non-government organization.
5. What is the maximum award an individual team can receive?
The maximum individual award is US$250,000.
6. Does Macquarie take equity in for-profit winners?
No. This is a prize/grant initiative focused on community resilience and impact.
7. Can the mentorship be remote?
Yes. Macquarie provides mentorship matchmaking which often includes virtual engagement to accommodate the global nature of the participants.
Conclusion
The Macquarie Community Resilience Prize represents a significant investment in the future of climate adaptation. By focusing on the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and human capital, the program ensures that vulnerable regions are not only protected from disasters but are also economically equipped to lead the transition to a resilient future.
For more information, visit Macquarie.
