Apply Now: $250,000 for Youth-Led Tech Solutions to End Poverty – ICTworks

Report on Funding Opportunity for Youth-Led Technology Solutions to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Global Citizen Prize

A funding initiative, the Global Citizen Prize, has been announced to support youth-led technological solutions aimed at eradicating extreme poverty. This initiative directly addresses the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1: No Poverty) by providing substantial capital to young innovators. The prize, a partnership between Cisco and Global Citizen, underscores the importance of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in mobilizing resources to tackle global challenges.

Addressing Global Development Challenges Through Innovation

The Scale of Global Poverty and the Digital Divide

The initiative is set against a backdrop of significant global challenges. Currently, 1.1 billion people, more than half of whom are children, live in acute multidimensional poverty. This situation is exacerbated by a pronounced digital divide; an estimated 1.3 billion school-aged children lack internet access at home. This gap presents a major obstacle to achieving SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), highlighting the urgent need for technology-driven interventions.

The Role of Youth in Achieving the SDGs

The prize recognizes the critical role of young leaders in developing innovative solutions that contribute to the SDGs. By focusing on technology, the award promotes SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and empowers youth to create scalable solutions that can accelerate progress across multiple development goals, including SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Global Citizen Prize for Youth Leadership: Program Details

Award and Objectives

A prize of $250,000 will be awarded to the winning organization. The primary objective is to provide crucial, equity-free scaling capital to an organization that is effectively using technology to advance the UN Global Goals and end extreme poverty. The program seeks to support initiatives that demonstrate a clear pathway to achieving measurable outcomes aligned with the SDGs.

Eligibility and Target Audience

The prize is open to leaders aged 18-30 who can demonstrate the impact of their work over a 3-5 year period. Applicants must show how their use of technology improves the efficiency and reach of their efforts to solve global problems, thereby contributing to the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Application and Evaluation Process

Application Components

The application process is structured in four parts:

1. Personal and Organizational Information: Submission of basic details and a scanned copy of the applicant’s passport.
2. Pitch: A 1-2 minute video explaining the applicant’s work and justification for receiving the award.
3. Judging Criteria Response: Short-answer questions (250 words or less per question) detailing how the applicant’s work meets each of the five evaluation criteria.
4. Organizational Details: Submission of official documentation, including proof of registration, incorporation, or tax exemption.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on five key criteria, which reflect the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals:

• Impact: Measurable contributions toward ending extreme poverty and advancing the SDGs.
• Vision: A clear and ambitious plan for future work that aligns with long-term sustainable development.
• Catalyst: The ability to inspire other young people and catalyze further action.
• Global Citizenship: A demonstrated commitment to creating a more just and sustainable world.
• Technology Innovation: The innovative application of technology to address development challenges, in line with SDG 9.

Key Dates and Deadlines

The deadline for applications is December 17, 2025. The winner will be formally announced at the Global Citizen NOW event in New York City in May 2026.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article’s central theme is the eradication of poverty. The title, “Apply Now: $250,000 for Youth-Led Tech Solutions to End Poverty,” and the opening statement, “While 1.1 billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty,” directly address this goal. The initiative described aims to fund solutions specifically designed to “end extreme poverty.”

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The focus on “youth-led” solutions and providing “scaling capital” for organizations run by young leaders (aged 18-30) connects to promoting entrepreneurship and creating economic opportunities for youth. This supports the goal of productive employment and decent work for all.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article emphasizes the role of “technology” and “innovation” in solving development challenges. It highlights the digital divide by stating that “1.3 billion children of ages 3 to 17 years – do not have internet access at home,” pointing to the need for improved digital infrastructure and increased access to technology.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The initiative is explicitly described as a “partnership between Cisco and Global Citizen.” This collaboration between a private sector company and a non-governmental organization to mobilize financial resources ($250,000) for sustainable development exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships required to achieve the Global Goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.1: Eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere. The article directly supports this by stating the prize is for solutions to “end extreme poverty.”
   • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions. The mention of “acute multidimensional poverty” aligns the initiative with addressing poverty beyond just income levels.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The prize supports youth-led organizations, directly fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
   • Target 8.6: Substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. By funding organizations led by young people (aged 18-30), the initiative empowers them and supports their engagement in productive activities.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries. The funding is specifically for “Youth-Led Technology Solutions,” which promotes local innovation.
   • Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet. The article uses the lack of internet access for 1.3 billion children as a key problem statement, implying that the funded tech solutions could help address this gap.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources. The $250,000 prize from the Cisco and Global Citizen partnership is a direct example of mobilizing private financial resources.
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The collaboration between Cisco (private sector) and Global Citizen (civil society) is a clear example of such a partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies the use of indicators by stating that “Winners must demonstrate measurable outcomes over 3-5 years.”

• For SDG 1 (No Poverty):

  The mention of “1.1 billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty” serves as a baseline statistic. An implied indicator for the funded projects would be the reduction in the number or proportion of people living in poverty within the project’s area of influence, aligning with Indicator 1.2.2 (Proportion of people living in poverty in all its dimensions).

• For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):

  The focus on youth-led organizations implies indicators such as the number of youth-led enterprises supported and the number of jobs created for youth by the funded organizations. This relates to the spirit of Indicator 8.6.1 (Proportion of youth not in education, employment or training).

• For SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):

  The statistic that “1.3 billion children… do not have internet access at home” points to a key indicator. Progress for funded projects could be measured by the increase in the number of people with access to or using technology/internet services as a result of the solution. This connects to Indicator 9.c.1 (Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology).

• For SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):

  A direct indicator is the amount of financial resources mobilized. The article explicitly states the prize amount of “$250,000,” which aligns with Indicator 17.3.1 (Additional financial resources mobilized for developing countries). The existence of the “partnership between Cisco and Global Citizen” itself serves as a qualitative indicator of multi-stakeholder partnerships in action.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ictworks.org