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ICT for Mountain Development Award 2015

16.06.2015

On the occasion of the World Environment Day (WED), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is pleased to launch the ICT for Mountain Development Award for the second consecutive year. The Award recognizes innovations in information and communications technology for Development (ICTD) that can help promote mountain development and environmental conservation. The award(s) will be announced on International Mountain Day (IMD), 11 December 2015.

Although ICT for Development is increasingly being used across the world, including in some parts of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region (HKH), we do not yet have a comprehensive picture of its use, application and proliferation in the mountain context of HKH. The annual ICT for Mountain Development Award would allow us and others working in this area to learn where, how and what is being done in the region in terms of ICT and mountain development. It will also help different thematic programmes build partnerships and support each other’s work in the region using ICT as an added enabler for mountain development. The award reflects the importance ICIMOD places on this emerging area of ICT for Development and gives continuity to ICIMOD’s efforts in this area.

Through this initiative, key institutions and development practitioners in ICT for Development in the region can also be identified. Submissions from the applicants will bring to light the creative potential within the ICT for Development sector and enable us to share and promote good practices for the benefit of mountain communities. The award will thus have a positive multiplier effect.

A panel of judges will select winners/awardees after an initial screening and evaluation process. Each awardee will receive a prize and a certificate of recognition.

Objectives

To recognize innovations in ICT for Development that can promote mountain development and environmental conservation;
To identify key institutions and practitioners working in ICT for Development and help build partnerships through ICIMOD’s regional programmes;
To showcase and share innovative work being done in the interest of mountain communities.

Basic Criteria

Awards will be given based on the content and creativity of the submissions. The chief criteria is that such ICT for Development initiatives have been applied in the HKH region, have a clear focus on mountain development or mountain environment, and have made an impact on the ground. All forms of ICT (mobile, radio, Internet, digital content, blogs, robotics, multimedia, etc.) are eligible for submission.

Award Categories

Awards will be given in a number of categories. For this year, there will be awards in the current four thematic work areas of ICIMOD (livelihoods, water and air, ecosystem services, and geospatial solutions). There could also be other categories such as ‘audience choice award’ and/or ‘special mentions award’. While the applicants are required to choose one of the broad categories, including ‘others’, they can focus on a specific work area while making the submission, e.g., mountain agriculture, disaster management, forestry, environment, mountain tourism, open data, inclusion, etc. The same work cannot be submitted in multiple categories.

Start and Closing Dates for Submission, Award Announcement Date

Applicants will have to submit their work electronically through a web-based interface. This is a free and open call. There is no fee to enter a submission. We will accept submissions from the day we call for applications (5 June 2015, World Environment Day) till Friday, 30 October 2015. A panel of judges will select winners/awardees after an initial screening and evaluation process. The winners/awardees will be announced on International Mountain Day (IMD), 11 December 2015.

Who Can Participate?

The call is open to anyone residing in any part of the world as long as the project case/work is relevant to the context of HKH. Individuals, entrepreneurs, development practitioners and institutions are all eligible to submit their work.

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News by ICIMOD

Photo: Anna Sustersic