rules
Solutions must be received by October 15, 2009, at midnight.
The competition is open to companies, universities, DPOS, other organizations, and individuals (18 years or older).
Individuals and entities in all IDB member countries can apply. However, the pilot project must be carried out in IDB member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Entities from outside the region must have a local counterpart.
Participants cannot be related to anyone who works for the IADB (applicants whose members or close relatives are presently employed or in the process of becoming IADB employees are not eligible).
The solutions must correspond directly to the problem in the chosen category.
Financing may be provided to more than one project in each category. If a category does not receive any high quality proposals, the category may be declared null and void.
Problem categories:
Category 1: Software for people with visual disabilities, especially in the work place
Screen readers, software and other adaptive technologies help people with visual disabilities access computers and IT. However, many of these products are expensive and out of reach for individuals or companies in Latin America, thus excluding people from the work place.
In this category, we are looking for solutions that provide affordable, open source software and hardware for people with visual disabilities. Preference will be given to solutions that improve labor inclusion.
This category is only open to products, not services.
Category 2: Toys for All
Children with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean rarely have access to toys that are adapted to their particular situation, depriving them of education and entertainment opportunities. Children learn through play and all children should have access to toys that help them develop and simply have fun.
This category looks for technological, innovative toys and games that are suitable for children with disabilities to learn and play. The toys can be video games, actual toys, outdoor games, etc. Technological solutions will be given preference.
This category is only open to products, not services.
Category 3: Access to transport
One of the biggest obstacles to social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities is the lack of accessible transport. Transportation is necessary to take advantage of educational opportunities and, in most cases, to hold a job. In Latin America and the Caribbean, few countries have accessible public transport, which means that those who cannot afford their own car (the majority) or have family members who can provide transportation, are excluded from many study and work opportunities.
In this category, we are looking for technological or mechanical solutions in accessible transport: Do you have a solution to the lack of transport opportunities for people with disabilities? Do you have an innovative product or service that can make public transportation more accessible?
This category is open to products and services.
Category 4: Educational resources for Deaf children
In many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Deaf children have few educational resources in their national sign language, and a general lack of resources that help them learn. While Deaf people in developed countries use online dictionaries and courses, DVDs, and other technological resources, this is not readily available in the region.
This category encourages innovations and technologies that help Deaf children learn, especially using their national sign language.
This category is only open to products, not services.
Category 5: Working from home – how can technology help people with physical disabilities work from home?
While the goal is for all societies to be inclusive and accommodating, universal design is still not a reality in Latin America. In light of this, many people with disabilities look for ways of making a living from or in the vicinity of their home.
To provide more work from home opportunities, this category is open to solutions that use technology to create labor opportunities.
This category is open to products and services.
Selection criteria:
The winning products or solutions have to answer directly to the problem category it seeks to solve. Solutions that do not correspond to one of the five categories will automatically be discarded.
Training programs are not eligible and will automatically be discarded.
The solutions must be products, or in categories 3 and 5, products or services. They can be original innovations or adaptations of innovations that already exist.
The winning team must be willing to collaborate with the IDB team in the design of the pilot project.
The innovations will be judged according to the following criteria:
Concept:
- Innovation and originality of the idea
- Feasibility of implementation
- Scalability in other regions and countries
Impact:
- Reach and depth of impact
- Responsiveness to need
- Detailed attention to, and collaboration with, the particular beneficiary group
download
solutions_guidelines_categories_criteria.doc
solutions_application_form.doc
Recent Comments