Deadline: 27-Nov-20
The Response Innovation Lab Uganda (RIL), in collaboration with Save the Children and with the support of the Government of Norway, is launching a Covid-19 Innovation Prize for 2020.
They will be used to support locally-sourced innovations responding to the pandemic (prevention and treatment), secondary socio-economic challenges and disruption of basic services caused by the virus or the preventive measures in place to flatten the curve.
The Covid-19 Innovation prizes will be recognizing work that is already completed by innovators and innovative companies/organizations and that has had positive effects on and benefitted boys, girls, women, men and youth in terms of protection, adapted livelihoods and resilience from the effects of the pandemic.
The prizes will recognize locally-implemented innovations responding to the pandemic (prevention and treatment), secondary socio-economic challenges and COVID-caused disruption of basic services.
The Challenges
Uganda is registering increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections and this, along with a prolonged lock-down, has had impacts on the population directly and indirectly:
- Learning has been disturbed for millions of children in refugee settlements and other communities have had their learning interrupted because of school/child friendly space closures and once out of school for long, there is a risk that many will never go back to learning. The majority of those out of school cannot access the necessary facilities and materials or technology to catch up with learning.
- Families in refugee and host communities as well as vulnerable Ugandan communities/least well-off families have lost their livelihoods and are struggling to make ends meet, resorting to negative coping mechanisms. A considerable proportion of families are having one meal a day, preventing children from consuming the nutrients they need to develop and enjoy their childhood.
- Most vulnerable groups, children, youth, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, etc. around the country and more so in settlements face increasing threats to their safety and well-being – including mistreatment, gender-based violence, emotional distress, exploitation, social exclusion and separation from caregivers – because of preventive measures taken to contain the disease, while many are missing out on life-saving services and medication. These factors and the possibility of anxiety, stigma and discrimination increase vulnerability to abuse, exploitation and psychological distress.
Themes
Four thematic tracks have been retained:
- Prevention, treatment and response to Covid-19 and its impacts: They are looking for innovative work that has focused on one of the following areas:
- Innovations helping frontline workers such as but not limited to public health workers continue delivering services safely and efficiently to most vulnerable and remote communities, including refugees, during Covid-19.
- Innovations related to prevention and treatment including local production of Personal Productive Equipment (PPE), highly innovative PPE or other health-related equipment
- Digital health solutions contributing to the pandemic’s response.
- Solutions helping to abide by social distancing and other preventive measures while ensuring basic services remain accessible.
- Solutions addressing mental health needs during this period.
- Solutions targeting the needs of most vulnerable and at-risk groups to ensure their wellbeing and health during the pandemic.
- Ideas to address increased gender-based violence and other increased abuse and harmful practices during the pandemic, as well as support mechanisms.
- Continuous and safe learning in and out of schools: Under this thematic track, innovations will be rewarded if they respond to one of the following challenges:
- As candidate classes are returning to school, innovations that contribute to a safe reopening and running of schools.
- Digital and non-digital solutions supporting the re-enrollment and promotion of return to schools, particularly amongst children and adolescent at risk of becoming drop-outs.
- For those children who cannot return to school yet (non-candidate classes), solutions supporting teachers and parents in vulnerable communities in ensuring continuous learning of children and adolescents while ensuring preventive measures are respected. A particular focus should be on communities with limited financial means, access to electronic devices and/or internet connectivity.
- Economic resilience and/or adapted livelihoods during Covid-19 and social distancing: Under this category, they are looking for ideas that have been implemented to:
- Address the impact of COVID on economic inequalities faced by women and/or marginalized groups.
- Ensure continued income streams for small businesses and social enterprises during the pandemic and in respect of the preventive measures.
- Find alternative income-generating solutions in response to economic vulnerability and loss of livelihoods during Covid-19 without resorting to negative coping mechanisms.
- Refugee-led innovations (any Covid-19-related innovations)
- Any innovation responding to Covid-19, the impacts of the virus on any areas of life as well as the impacts of preventive measures as long as the innovation has been implemented by a refugee registered in Uganda or a refugee led organization.
Funding Information
The funding will be in form of prizes for the best Covid-19 innovative solutions. A total of UGX 82 million is up for prize funding to the innovations that meet the criteria.
- Individual prizes will range from 1 million to 3 million shillings for winners, runner-up and third place categories.
- Awards to registered companies will range from 2 to 7.5 million shillings.
- All cash prizes will be subjected to the statutory deductions. Non-cash prizes (i.e. certificates) to innovations worth promoting but not meeting thresholds for prizing will also be awarded.
Who Can Apply?
- Individual innovators (Ugandans or refugees registered in Uganda).
- Local organizations and refugee-led organizations (local NGOs, Academic institutions, CBOs, CSOS, and start-ups and private sector companies). The applicant preferably is registered formally and active since a minimum of 6 months.
- The innovation is already being implemented by the innovation team using pre-existing resources. The prizes will not be provided to ideas that have not been tested.
For more information, visit https://www.responseinnovationlab.com/covid19innovationprizeuganda