Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP) 2024

Deadline: 16-Jun-2024

Under the Global Development Awards Competition 2024, the Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP) is an award program that invites non-profit NGOs and CSOs to submit project proposals supporting (in particular) improved service delivery, and innovative approaches that may be scaled-up through a grant.

The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project is a competitive grant program under the umbrella of the Global Development Awards Competition, administered by GDN, funded under the Policy and Human Resources Development Fund (PHRD) trust fund managed by the World Bank, and generously supported by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan. The Award targets projects currently at the stage of implementation, and which have a high potential for impact targeting exceptionally marginalized and disadvantaged groups located in developing countries – per the World Bank’s recognition as low and middle income countries.

Theme

• Sustainable Climate Action for Human-Centered Development 
  • In the complex and interconnected tapestry of global challenges, climate change stands as a pivotal force, affecting ecosystems, societies, and individuals worldwide. Amidst these challenges, the imperative for sustainable climate action has never been more urgent, especially in regions grappling with unique vulnerabilities. In navigating the intricate challenges of climate change within the Global South, the theme “Sustainable Climate Action for Human-Centered Development” underscores the critical need to align environmental preservation with the well-being of communities in these regions. Within this nexus, initiatives that not only protect the planet but also prioritize human-centric development take center stage, acknowledging the unique contexts and vulnerabilities of the Global South.
  • The 2024 edition of the Global Development Awards Competition aims to highlight innovative ideas and ongoing projects to celebrate and amplify the voices of those who actively contribute to building a resilient future—one where the human experience is not merely considered but is at the forefront of climate action strategies. The theme underscores the profound need to align the commitment to safeguarding the planet with an unwavering dedication to human-centric development, recognizing the unique contexts, cultures, and vulnerabilities present in the Global South, to realize a society where no one is left behind.
  • Under the Japanese Awards for Most Innovative Development Awards (MIDP) category, GDN wants to highlight the transformative power of on-the-ground initiatives by NGOs that have moved beyond conceptualization, actively engaging with communities to implement projects that enhance climate resilience. By showcasing participatory project design, adaptation and mitigation strategies, and sustainable livelihood initiatives, they aim to award their impactful work. This category stands as a platform to recognize and amplify the voices of those directly supporting the most marginalized communities, embodying the spirit of community-led climate resilience exemplifying the spirit of human-centered development in the face of climate change challenges.
  • Sub-Theme: “Community-Centered Climate Action and Sustainable Development” 
    • Type of projects 
      • Community-Driven Assessment Initiatives 
        • Projects that actively involve communities in the assessment of climate change impacts, ensuring that local knowledge and experiences are integral to the evaluation process.
      • Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies 
        • Projects that highlight and focus on the direct benefits of these strategies to the most marginalized members of the community based on mitigation approaches to the impact of climate change.
      • Sustainable Livelihood Initiatives 
        • Projects that integrate climate resilience with sustainable livelihood opportunities for marginalized communities while emphasizing the economic empowerment and improved well-being of community members.
      • Temporal Adaptation in Practice
        • Projects that have adaptive strategies that acknowledge the temporal dynamics of climate change impact, demonstrating how community-led initiatives have aligned with different time frames identified through assessments.

Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) Award 

• The JSDF award focuses on piloting socially innovative development projects that have been identified as having the potential for development impact and replicability through the MIDP Award. The objective of JSDF Award is to support community driven development and poverty reduction programs that serve to enhance productivity, increase access to social and community services and infrastructure, and improve the living conditions of poor and vulnerable groups in eligible countries.
• The two first prize winners will compete for the JSDF award after a minimum of 12 months implementation of their MIDP grant. GDN will review the suitability of the proposals for a much larger grant of up to US$ 200,000 within the framework of the World Bank-administered Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF).

Connector Grant 

• The 2022 edition introduced the Connector Grant which aims to stimulate international cooperation through the development of collaborative projects to support scale-up efforts with research-based evidence. The Connector grant will be awarded to ORD grantees, based on a project developed in collaboration with the MIDP grantees who received the JSDF grant. This grant will support the award recipients’ collaborative efforts towards measuring and analyzing scale-up impact, as well as to enhance the robustness of their M&E activities.

Funding Information

• The winning projects will receive grants worth US$ 120,000 in total. The two first prize winners will receive a grant of US$ 50,000 each. The second prize will be a grant of US$ 20,000. Additionally, awardees will be paired with a Technical Advisor throughout the entire implementation of the grant.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Geographical scope 
  • Eligible countries for the MIDP competition are those classified by the World Bank as low-income or middle-income countries.
• World Bank Environmental and Social Framework’s (ESF) 
  • Comply with the WB Environmental and Social Framework’s (ESF) and the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). Please check the Annex at the end of this call to see the exclusion list of ineligible activities.
• NGO registration 
  • The project must be managed by a registered non-profit, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) or Civil Society Organization (CSO) with its headquarters in one of the eligible countries.
• Project implementation 
  • Project must have started its implementation on 1st June 2023 or before to be considered eligible. The applicant will need to prove during the review stage that there is a track record of activities since this Competition does not fund ideas or pilot initiatives.
  • Submissions concerning a recently started project or only a project idea or a feasibility or baseline study will not be considered.
  • Submissions for funding conferences (either in part or in full) will not be considered.
• Recurrent submissions 
  • Applicants from previous years (except winners) may re-apply, but they must update the application to include new aspects of the project.
• Previous winners 
  • Previous MIDP winners are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Global Development Network.