The Global Development Awards Competition is an innovative award scheme administered by the Global Development Network (GDN), funded under the Policy and Human Resources Development Fund (PHRD), managed by the World Bank, and generously supported by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan.
Theme and Awards The theme of the 2022 edition is ‘Post-COVID-19 Governance – Learning from challenging circumstances to build better governance systems‘ and will feature two categories:
A competitive research grant program that identifies and funds outstanding research proposals that have a high potential for excellence in research and clear policy implications for addressing development issues in low and middle-income countries (as defined by the World Bank)
A competitive grant program that supports non-profit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in low or lower-middle-income countries (as defined by the World Bank) to recognize the innovative approach of their projects.
Award Prizes
For the ORD category – a total of USD 60,000 with the first prize awarded USD 30k, the second prize 20k, and the third prize 5k
For the MIDP category – a total of USD 125K with the 2 first prizes awarded USD 50k and the second prize from USD 25k. The first prize winners will then compete for access to the JSDF Award for replication/scale-up for up to USD 200k
Capacity-building activities before the Awards Competition to support applicants and strengthen project design, development, and writing skills. Additional one throughout the implementation and access to additional ones for former grantees
Dedicated Mentor, an expert on the field, for each awarded grant
Eligibility Criteria
Non-profit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for the MIDP category and researchers for the ORD category – both from low or lower-middle-income countries.
The Global Development Awards Competition is an innovative award scheme launched by GDN with the generous support from the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan.
Since its inception in 2000, GDN has awarded roughly US$ 4 million in research and project grants to finalists and winners. Nearly 8,800 researchers and development practitioners from low and middle income countries and transition countries have participated in the competition and more than 200 awards have been conferred till date.
The awards recognize excellence in policy-oriented research, supports research capacity development of researchers in low and middle income countries and funds innovative social development projects benefiting marginalized groups in the developing world. The annual competition has a new, relevant theme every year. GDN provides grants through its awards competition under two main categories:
The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development:The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) is a competitive research grant program that identifies and funds outstanding research proposals that have a high potential for excellence in research and clear policy implications for addressing development issues. Applicants receive expert feedback from junior and later senior researchers. Additionally, throughout the implementation of their projects, the research teams are supported by a Scientific and Technical Advisor, who is selected based on the theme of their research.
The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project:The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP) is a competitive grant program that supports Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in low or lower income countries to recognize the innovative approach of their projects. The first prize winner is also eligible to compete under the Japan Social Development Fund for an additional grant of up to US$ 200,000 to pilot their innovative work at a larger scale.
Finalists in both categories receive training in communicating research and development, prior to their presentations at the conference.
Film featuring the finalists from the Global Development Awards Competition at the 17th GDN Annual Global Development Conference in Lima, Peru in March, 2016.
