Deadline: 24-Apr-24
The U.S. Department of State’s Consulate General, Mumbai Public Diplomacy Section announces an open competition to implement a green technology in waste management themed TechCamp, held in Pune, India, to catalyze innovative solutions and foster regional collaboration to tackle the pressing challenge of managing waste in western India.
During the workshop, participants will engage in in-depth discussions on the multifaceted challenges across the life cycle of waste in urban India. The program will show how cutting-edge technologies can be harnessed to address these challenges and create value from collected and recycled waste. The TechCamp will be a platform for knowledge exchange, enabling participants to gather insights, share experiences, and collaboratively devise innovative approaches that can be applied to western India’s waste management landscape. By leveraging the expertise of U.S. professionals and fostering dialogue among stakeholders, the TechCamp will inspire transformative change and contribute to sustainable waste management practices in the region.
This funding opportunity will support a TechCamp that aims to bring together 40 professionals from diverse sectors, including waste management companies, government agencies, private enterprises, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), financial institutions, start-ups (including women-led), civil society, and civic authorities.
The four-day conference in Pune will facilitate trainings and project development of innovative solutions across various facets of waste management. With a focus on the Indian state of Maharashtra, home to Megacity Mumbai and several other medium-to-large-sized cities including Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur, the event will harness collective expertise to manage waste effectively. Given the centralized governance of waste management in Maharashtra, the insights generated could inform or refine policies applicable across the state.
The TechCamp is scheduled to take place between September and October 2024. Led by expert trainers, both international and local, the workshops will be tailored to meet participant needs by offering diverse and relevant topics from which to choose. The project comprises two main components: (1) hands-on workshops driven by participants, connecting them with technology experts from the private sector; and (2) a robust follow-up program where participants implement project ideas as expert trainers continue to support and mentor participants beyond the initial workshop.
Project Goal
- The overall goal of the program is to bring together 40 professionals from diverse backgrounds with 7-8 international and local trainers to catalyze innovative solutions and foster regional collaboration to address the pressing challenge of managing waste in Maharashtra through knowledge exchange, technology adoption, and stakeholder collaboration.
Project Objectives
- Increase awareness and understanding of cutting-edge waste management technologies and best practices among delegates by the end of the conference, as measured by a post-event survey showing at least an 80% increase in knowledge levels compared to pre-event assessments.
- Facilitate the development of at least five actionable collaborative projects or initiatives among participants aimed at addressing specific challenges in waste management in western India by the conclusion of the TechCamp, as evidenced by the presentation of project proposals or action plans.
- Establish sustainable partnerships between at least five local municipalities, waste management organizations in western India, or relevant U.S. counterparts within six months post-event, as demonstrated by signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or partnership agreements outlining areas of collaboration and mutual support in waste management initiatives.
Tech Camp Project Objectives
- The theme of the TechCamp will be to catalyze innovative solutions and foster regional collaboration to address waste management in western India through knowledge exchange, technology adoption, and stakeholder collaboration.
- The grantee will be the logistical lead as the program connects participants with technology experts to co-create innovative tech solutions to real-world challenges.
- The program will promote the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai goals of promoting and deploying green technology for effective waste management in India.
- The program will utilize 20 percent of the budget for continued engagement with the TechCamp participants.
Funding Information
- Total available funding: $100,000
- Award amounts: awards may range from a minimum of $90,000 to a maximum of $100,000
- Length of performance period: Not to exceed 15 months
- Number of awards anticipated: One award (dependent on amounts)
Ineligible Funding
- This opportunity will not support:
- Projects relating to partisan political activity;
- Charitable or development activities;
- Construction projects;
- Projects that support specific religious activities;
- Fund-raising campaigns;
- Lobbying for specific legislation or programs
- Scientific research or surveys;
- Commercial projects;
- Projects intended primarily for the growth or institutional development of the organization;
- Projects that duplicate existing projects; or
- Illegal activities
Project Audience
- The grantee will closely collaborate with the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai to enlist participants for the TechCamp. The aim is to gather 40 professionals from sectors such as waste management companies, government, private sector, SMEs, financial institutions, startups (including those led by women), exchange alumni, civil society, and civic authorities from Maharashtra. These participants will collaborate on innovative waste management solutions. The applicant is tasked with collaborating on the TechCamp application form and establishing a vetting process. Confirmation of TechCamp attendees should be finalized at least eight weeks prior to the camp. attendees should be finalized at least eight weeks prior to the camp. Attendees should be finalized at least eight weeks prior to the camp.
- The target age range for the TechCamp audience is 30-50 years old. Attendees should possess a minimum of five years of experience in waste management or related fields. Additional experience in engaging with policymakers or influencing policies, as well as presenting innovative ideas to tackle waste management challenges in their applications, is strongly encouraged. The overall selection pool should reflect gender and ethnic diversity.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible Applicants
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations (remember non-PD money only)
- Civil society/non-governmental organizations
- Think tanks
- Public and private educational institutions
- Public International Organizations and Governmental institutions
- For-profit entities, even those that may fall into the categories listed above, are not eligible to apply for this NOFO. Organizations may sub-contract with other entities, but only one, non-profit, non-governmental entity can be the prime recipient of the award. When sub-contracting with other entities, the responsibilities of each entity must be clearly defined in the proposal.
- Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, all proposals from that institution will be considered ineligible for funding.
- The following organizations are eligible to apply:
- Cost Sharing or Matching
- Cost sharing or matching is not required for this funding opportunity.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.