As part of the Global Development Awards 2024, the Japan Award for the Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP) is an awards programme that invites non-profit NGOs and CSOs to submit project proposals that support (in particular) improved service delivery and innovative approaches that can be scaled up with a grant.

The price Japanese for the most innovative development project is a competitive grants programme under the umbrella of the Global Development Awards Competition, administered by GDN, funded by the resources (PHRD) managed by the World Bank and generously supported by the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Japan. The award targets projects that are currently in the implementation phase and have a high potential for impact, targeting exceptionally marginalised and disadvantaged groups located in developing countries - in line with the recognition of the Bank as a low- and middle-income country.

Theme

• Sustainable climate action for people-centred development
  • In the complex and interconnected mosaic of global challenges, climate change is a central force, affecting ecosystems, societies and individuals around the world. In the face of these challenges, the imperative for sustainable climate action has never been more urgent, particularly in regions with unique vulnerabilities. By addressing the complex challenges of climate change in the South, the theme of "Sustainable Climate Action for People-Centred Development" underlines the crucial need to align environmental preservation with the well-being of communities in these regions. In this context, initiatives that not only protect the planet, but also prioritise people-centred development, take centre stage, recognising the unique contexts and vulnerabilities of countries in the South.
  • The 2024 edition of the Global Development Awards aims to highlight innovative ideas and ongoing projects to celebrate and amplify the voices of those who are actively contributing to building a resilient future, where the human experience is not only taken into account, but is at the forefront of climate action strategies. The theme highlights the profound need to align the commitment to saving the planet with an unwavering dedication to human-centred development, recognising the unique contexts, cultures and vulnerabilities present in the Global South, in order to achieve a society where no one is left behind.
  • As part of the Japan Awards for Most Innovative Development (MIDP) category, GDN aims to highlight the transformative power of on-the-ground initiatives led by NGOs that have gone beyond conceptualisation, actively engaging with communities to implement projects that improve climate resilience. By showcasing participatory project design, adaptation and mitigation strategies, and sustainable livelihood initiatives, they aim to reward their impactful work. This category presents itself as a platform to recognise and amplify the voices of those who directly support the most marginalised communities, embodying the spirit of community-led climate resilience exemplifying the spirit of human-centred development in the face of the challenges of climate change.
  • Sub-theme: Community-centred climate action and sustainable development
    • Type of project
      • Community-based evaluation initiatives
        • Projects that actively involve communities in assessing the impacts of climate change, ensuring that local knowledge and experience are an integral part of the assessment process.
      • Adaptation and mitigation strategies
        • Projects that highlight and emphasise the direct benefits of these strategies for the most marginalised members of the community, based on approaches to mitigating the impact of climate change.
      • Sustainable livelihood initiatives
        • Projects that integrate climate resilience with sustainable livelihoods for marginalised communities, with a focus on economic empowerment and improving the well-being of community members.
      • Time adaptation in practice
        • Projects with adaptation strategies that recognise the temporal dynamics of the impact of climate change, demonstrating how community-led initiatives have aligned with the different periods identified by the assessments.
          

          • Japan Social Development Fund Prize (JSDF)

            • The JSDF Prize focuses on piloting socially innovative development projects that have been identified as having potential for development impact and replicability through the MIDP Prize. The objective of the JSDF Prize is to support community-led development and poverty reduction programmes that serve to improve 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 winners of the first prize will compete for the JSDF prize after a minimum of 12 months of implementation of their MIDP grant. The GDN will consider proposals for a much larger grant of up to $200,000 under the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) administered by the World Bank.

Connector grant

• The 2022 edition has 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 recipients, based on a project developed in collaboration with MIDP recipients who have received the JSDF grant. This grant will support awardees' collaborative efforts to measure and analyse the impact of scaling up, as well as to improve the robustness of their monitoring and evaluation activities.

Information on funding

• The winning projects will receive grants totalling $120,000. The two first-prize winners will each receive a $50,000 grant. The second prize will be a $20,000 grant. In addition, the grant recipients will be paired with a technical advisor throughout the implementation of the grant.

Eligibility criteria

• Geographical scope
  • Countries eligible for the MIDP competition are those considered by the World Bank to be low- or middle-income countries.
• World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF)
  • Comply with the World Bank's Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) and Environmental and Social Standards (ESS). Please refer to the appendix at the end of this call for the exclusion list of ineligible activities.
• NGO registration
  • The project must be managed by a not-for-profit organisation, a non government (NGO) or a registered civil society organisation (CSO) based in one of the eligible countries.
• Project implementation
  • The project must have begun implementation on or before 1 June 2023 to be considered eligible. At the assessment stage, applicants will need to demonstrate a track record of activity, as this competition does not fund pilot ideas or initiatives.
  • Submissions relating to a recently started project or only a project idea or feasibility or baseline study will not be considered.
  • Submissions for funding conferences (in whole or in part) will not be considered.
• Recurring submissions
  • Applicants from previous years (with the exception of winners) may submit a new application, but must update the application to include new aspects of the project.
• Previous winners
  • Previous MIDP winners are not eligible to apply.

For more information, please visit Global Development Network website.