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Accelerating Access Prize

Selected organization to implement solution

Win a cash prize of up to Rs 15,00,000

Participate CALL Inviting non-profit organizations to address water,
sanitation and healthy space related challenges
faced in vulnerable urban communities of India. FOR ENTRIES

ABOUT THE ACCELERATING ACCESS PRIZE

Are you a non-profit organization with an innovative and scalable solution that addresses Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) and Healthy Spaces* related challenges faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged urban communities in India?

Apply to be part of TheCityFix Labs: Accelerating Access Prize.

The Accelerating Access Prize celebrates on-ground transformative change with an award of up to INR 15,00,000 for the selected organization. The award money will support the winning organization in extending the implementation of their ongoing work.

*Healthy Space refers to pollution-free/clean and safe public spaces/natural environment. Public spaces act as the social, economic and resilience interface between households, providing a host of benefits that are directly accessible to the community.

Apply Now

Photo by Samrat Basak

ACCELERATING ACCESS PRIZE TIMELINE

CALL FOR
PROPOSALS

1 February

2021

APPLICATIONS
CLOSE

28 February

2021

SHORTLISTING AND
ANNOUNCEMENT

31 MARCH

2021

IMPLEMENT
SOLUTION

31 May

2021

Photo by Community Eye Health/Flickr

WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The proposed project should address at least one of the following thematic priorities:

  • Water and sanitation accessibility
  • Gender equality, disability and social inclusion
  • Implementation of a community-level affordable WASH business model and digital payments system
  • Circular WASH solutions (greywater recycle and reuse), climate-resilient infrastructure
  • Water-sensitive urban design or nature-based solutions (rain gardens, recharge wells, retention ponds, etc.)

WHAT KIND OF PROJECTS ARE WE LOOKING FOR? (Continued)

  • Solid waste management and healthy spaces
  • Other projects which do not fit the above categories but focus on WASH and healthy spaces

Your project pitch should:

  • Be incremental, innovative, scalable and focused on vulnerable urban communities
  • Be implementable in 2 months
  • Integrate readily into the existing built environment
  • Have at least one demonstration or pilot on-ground

Photo by Vinoth Chandar/Flickr

ELIGIBILITY – WHO CAN APPLY?

  • Non-profit organizations registered as a legal entity in India
  • The organization must operate in an urban Indian city
  • Proven solution with at least one demonstration or pilot on-the-ground (proof-of-concept or pilot stage solutions can also apply)
  • Be available to implement and operate their solution on-ground
  • Abide by the Terms and Conditions

*In order to reach more non-profit organizations, we also encourage on-ground independent researchers/practitioners collaborating with non-profit organizations to participate and help bridge gaps such as language barriers to develop a structured proposal

Photo by Green Chameleon/Unsplash

KEY POINTS FOR APPLICANTS


Photo by Stil/Unsplash

Selection Criteria

WRI India, with the support of aaco partners, will select the final project based on the following:

  • Extent of impact on the proposed urban disadvantaged/vulnerable communities
  • Established relationship with the urban community associated with the project
  • Project solution (in accordance with the above-mentioned thematic priorities) that is in the incremental scaling-up stage
  • Project solution improves urban water resilience
  • Ability to implement the project using the contest award of up to INR 15,00,000
  • Ability to implement the project before May 31, 2021
  • Ability to meet WRI India’s and Citi Foundation’s operational due diligence standards

NOTE: Operation and maintenance plan, if any, should be taken care of by the selected organization

What to keep in mind, if your application is selected:

  • Pitch project in March 2021 and implement the solution by end of May 2021
  • Produce a report with project details and photographs upon implementation
  • Have all required permissions beforehand to implement the proposed incremental solution


Photo by Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash

FAQs

Who is eligible to participate?

  • Non-profit organizations/entities. Submissions may be for existing initiatives and projects across all Indian cities.
  • Social enterprises/innovation organizations under the non-profit category must propose the project for a particular disadvantaged urban community
  • Individuals in collaboration with a non-profit organization to support an on-going initiative/project and help to bridge gaps such as the language barrier in developing the proposal
  • For more information, refer the Terms and Conditions

How is the winner selected?

Shortlisting of applications internally in accordance with the judging criteria# described below. The winners will be selected by a panel comprising but not limited to judges from WRI India and the aaco core partners.
#Judging criteria – Submitted project pitch of each organization will be assessed on creativity, uniqueness, design, originality of innovation, addresses the problem statements and theme stated in the Lab and practicality of implementation by end of May 2021.

Can I submit an idea for a project that hasn’t started?

Submissions that are incremental in nature of an existing initiative or project will be considered. There is no minimum threshold of impact for any submission. However, proposals with deeper, multi-dimensional and long-lasting change will have a competitive edge.

Who can I contact for more information?

You can reach the Accelerating Access Prize team at:

Email Id: sindhuja.janakiraman@wri.org Contact No.: 9952064806