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DEVELOPMENT CASE COMPETITION 2015

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The 2015 Innovation Marketplace, organized by the Georgetown Development Initiative, is an international development case competition that seeks to generate deeper conversations about the development challenges facing our global community

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DEVELOPMENT CASE COMPETITION 2015

Prepared by: Geeva Gopalkrishnan President, Georgetown Development Initiative Icons des igned by: freepik.com

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About the Competition Participation Criteria & Eligibility Competition Timeline Innovation Marketplace

Competition Cases

Submission Deliverables Judging Criteria

Annex A: Sample Proposal Template

The 2015 Innovation Marketplace is organized by the Georgetown Development Initiative and will be held in April 2015 at Georgetown University (Washington D.C.). The Innovation Marketplace is an international development case competition that seeks to generate deeper conversations about the development challenges facing our global community, but more importantly to encourage the ideation of solutions to address such challenges.

The Georgetown Development Initiative (GDI) is a student organization in Georgetown University that designs and implements projects for communities-in-need across the globe. The case competition is selected as the preferred platform as it not only provides realistic simulation, but also offers a hands-on experience. Participants have a better appreciation of development challenges, have the opportunity to interact and engage in constructive dialogues with like-minded individuals from across the country, and are also presented with a unique networking experience with thought leaders, experts, and scholars in the field of international development.

Participants will compete in teams of 2-5 people and submit proposals outlining their solutions to one of three real case studies in the field of international development. The finalists will be invited to 2015 Innovation Marketplace to share their proposals before a panel of development practitioners and community stakeholders. Winners will be given the opportunity to design and implement their solutions through GDI and renowned NGOs.

Objectives of the Innovation Marketplace

(a) Provide a forum for the ideation and exchange of knowledge to solve global

development challenges

(b) Connect aspiring change-makers with development practitioners

(c) Provide students with a better appreciation of the challenges in the field of

development, and the complexities of solving these challenges

About the Competition

04#

In order to compete, interested participants must:

(a) Be enrolled as an undergraduate at a University during the Spring 2015

semester.

(b) Be able to present to a panel of judges at Georgetown University in

Washington D.C. in April 2015, if shortlisted.

Registering as a Team (a) Each team must submit a Team Registration Form and write the team’s name in

the “Team Name” field by February 15.

(b) Each team can have 2-5 members.

(c) Members can be added to the registered team at any time till the end of the

proposal submission date, March 06.

(d) Each team member must fill out a Individual Registration Form and clearly

indicate the team’s name in the “Team Name” field

Participation Criteria & Eligibility

05#

Competition Timeline

Registration Opens: Friday, January 30 '15

Registration Deadline: Sunday, February 15 '15

Proposal Deadline: Friday, March 6 '15

Finalists Announced: Friday, March 13 '15

Innovation Marketplace: Saturday, April 11 '15

06#

Innovation Marketplace

Participants are provided with 3 development case studies to choose from. Alternatively, participants may also submit proposals under the open category by selecting a development challenge of their choice. However, teams that choose to apply via the open category are advised to email their choice of development challenge to [email protected] early for approval. Case I) Female Empowerment: Promoting a Safe Environment for Entrepreneurship Case II) Education: Improving Primary & Secondary Educational Outcomes Case III) Global Health: Improving Sanitary Conditions in Developing Communities Case IV) Open Category: Propose a development challenge of your choice!

Teams are tasked with developing an innovative solution that will address one or more aspects of the case. Your pitch is encouraged to be original, but should also draw from best practices in the field and be backed with sufficient evidence of sustainability and scalability, given budget constraints.

Imagine that your team has been provided with a grant by the Georgetown Development Initiative to launch a pilot. Develop a proposal for the pilot, including the budget, and describe how and where the project will be scaled.

07#

Case #1

FEMALE EMPOWERMENT Promoting a Safe Environment for Entrepreneurship

The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project estimates that more than 187 million women are engaged in entrepreneurial activity. However, growing number of scholars1 have identified a gender gap in entrepreneurship. The gender gap is defined as “the difference between men and women in terms of numbers engaged in entrepreneurial activity, motives to start or run a business, industry choice and business performance and growth”2.

The Problem Key determinants of the prevailing gender gap are identified to be:

• Inadequate training and access to information o There exist low levels of education and skill training among women in

developing countries. In addition, the paucity of career guidance and limited access to public and private support services including “business development services and information on business growth” exacerbates this gap3.

• Women’s safety and gender based violence o The issue of safety and protection of female entrepreneurs, especially those in

the informal economy, is also a cause for concern. There are numerous “stories of killings, harassment and rape of female vendors and micro-business owners” in developing countries2. The constant fear, stress and inability to freely choose the optimal location or operating hours for the business limits the effectiveness and success of such entrepreneurships4.

The Task o Design an innovative solution that encompasses coping strategies and support

structures for female entrepreneurs who face the challenges of inadequate training and threat to safety.

References: 1 Minniti, M. (2010) Female Entrepreneurship and Economic Activity. European Journal of Development Research 2010, Vol. 22, p. 294–312 2 Vossenberg, S. (2013) Women Entrepreneurship Promotion in Developing Countries: What explains the gender gap in entrepreneurship and how to close it? Working Paper No. 2013/08, Masstricht School of Management. 3 Kitching, B. and A. Woldie (2004) Female Entrepreneurs in Transitional Economies: A Comparative Study of Businesswomen in Nigeria and China. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Business, 21-24 June. Honolulu. 4 Chu, Hung M.; Kara, Orhan; Benzing, Cynthia (2008) An Empirical Study of Nigerian Entrepreneurs: Success, Motivations, Problems and Stress. International Journal of Business Research, 2008, Vol. 8 Issue 2, p102-116.

08#

Case #2

EDUCATION Improving Primary & Secondary Educational Outcomes

The Problem Many developing countries have inadequate classroom resources despite expanded access to primary and secondary education. A third of countries in sub- Saharan Africa suffer from teacher shortage – since the growth in teaching force lags behind the growth in school enrollments1. A common fix to this problem is the reliance on short-term contract teachers. Such teachers, however, often lack qualifications and skills necessary producing educational outcomes below expectations. Lack of accountability in educational institutions, teacher absenteeism and retiring teachers will only exacerbate this problem2. Forty per cent of children in sub- Saharan Africa reportedly remain illiterate even after five years of education3. The Task How can we better shape educational infrastructure to address this challenge in developing countries? Suggest new education innovations, possibly via a restructuring of the curriculum or via a change in the education model, that can address the challenge of teacher shortage and improve primary and secondary educational outcomes. A strong focus should be placed on the impact on student performance. References: 1 http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/Pages/world-teachers-day-2013.aspx 2 http://www.academia.edu/2380578/Teacher_Absenteeism_and_Teacher_Accountability_USAID_Paper_ 3 http://www.unesco.org/education/GMR2006/full/annex2_eng.pdf

09#

Case #3

GLOBAL HEALTH Improving Sanitary Conditions in Developing Communities

The Problem 2.4 billion people worldwide lack safe means of disposal of excreta and wastewater. In Asia, 31% of rural residents have access to basic sanitation1. Poor sanitation gives rise to chronic illnesses affecting the educational and employment capacity of individuals.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a tireless advocate for women and girls, recently spoke out in favor of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on improving sanitation for women. As she pointed out while speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, "There are no toilets available for women in the numbers that they represent. Think about it. It's such a simple thing” 2.

When women lack access to adequate sanitation, it impedes them from achieving their full economic and social potential. There is little to no safe toilets available for women while they are bustling around trying to sell in the marketplace. In some areas of the world, the difficulty of finding a bathroom and the threat to their safety may even prevent women from leaving their homes. The Task How we can improve access to sanitation to developing communities, and especially for women and girls, in way that is both affordable and has significant impact on this problem? Suggest innovative solutions that addresses the sanitation and gender challenges faced by developing community. Your solution should integrate safety and protection for women and girls. References: 1 http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/database/en/ 2 http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hillary-clinton-praises-narendra-modis-focus-on-sanitation/509634-61.html

10#

Application Materials

The submission deliverables include a concept note/proposal due on March 06, 2015, and presentation materials for finalists, which must be submitted at the start of the Innovation Marketplace on April 11, 2015.

Concept Note/ Proposal

Please prepare a concept note/ proposal that is roughly 4 pages (max) single-spaced. Concept notes/ proposals may include the following:

• What is your venture idea? What is the specific problem or issue that you are trying to address? How will you execute the idea?

• What investments will be required? (Staff, Technology, Facilities, etc) • What milestones do you intend to achieve? Provide a rough time-line of your

project implementation. • How is your idea effective? How do you intend to measure your success? • What are the risks and how can they be mitigated? • Include a budget approximation for your pilot.

Refer to Annex A for the Concept Note template used by Georgetown Development Initiative in its projects, as a reference for your proposal.

The concept note/proposal must be submitted by March 6, 2015 via the submission link on our site.

Presentation Materials Teams that have been shortlisted as finalists should create a 13-15 minute oral presentation with supporting presentation material (of any kind) articulating your solution. One or more team member may deliver the presentation, but all members must be available to respond to questions. 5 minutes will be allocated immediately after your presentation to field questions from the judges.

Finalists must also submit a one page executive summary of their proposals for the reference of judges. The executive summary must be submitted by April 5, 2015 via email to [email protected].

Presentation materials must be submitted on the day of the competition.

11#

GEEVA GOPAL KRISHNAN

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Selection of Winning Proposals

Each proposal will be evaluated carefully by a committee made up of representatives from the Georgetown Development Initiative and faculty advisors who are experienced development practitioners. The evaluation committee will select 8 finalists from across the 3 development cases and the open category.

The finalists will be informed by March 13, 2015.

The panel of judges at the Innovation Marketplace will feature expert development practitioners and thought leaders in the field of development. The panel will then select the champion, runner-up and second runner-up, as well as special mention awards, for the innovative solutions amongst all teams. In evaluating proposals, judges will consider the following:

• Strategy & Justification • Clarity & Organization • Feasibility • Innovation • Delivery

Tips for Proposal

• Scope & Succinct. Successful proposals are objective, well focused, and clear. Proposals should avoid having too wide a scope.

• Cost-effectiveness, Scale, Sustainability. Successful proposals should clearly demonstrate cost-effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability.

• Impact. It is recommended (but not necessary) that proposals include the means by which the team will evaluate the impact of the pilot.

Judging Criteria

12#

Project Proposal: <Insert Theme> 1

Pro

jec

t P

rop

osa

l Executive Summary Insert Theme of Development

Insert Project Title

Date Services Performed For:

[Date] Insert Name(s) Insert Name of Research Co-Director

Project Description Describe (1) background to the issue, (2) impact of the issue, (3) purpose of project, (4) why the project is necessary, and (5) what benefits can be expected (include spillover effects along with direct effects).

Resource Analysis What investments will be required? (Staff/Technology/Facilities/service Support) Is the project revenue-generating? Provide a market analysis: (1) does a market for the project exist in the region? (2) are there existent businesses or firms operating on a similar product/project in region?

Implementation Considerations What are the major phases of implementation? What major challenges are expected during implementation? What partnerships are required for the successful implementation of the project?

Project Description Describe in two/three lines about what the project is about Primary Objective State in three lines the project’s primary objective Target Region Insert target region in the following format: Continent/Country/District/City or Village Beneficiaries Specifically state beneficiaries of the project Key Facts • State issue

• State impact of issue • State statistics related to issue (global) • State statistics related to issue (specific to target region)

Potential Partners State if any local agencies, businesses, NGOs or grassroots organizations exist for partnership

Potential Funding Agency

List names of funding resources (e.g. Sponsors/Fundraising/Grant)

GEORGETOWN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

Project Proposal: <Insert Theme> 2

Risk Analysis What are the major risks in undertaking this project? How can these risks be mitigated? What are the major assumptions that the success of this project depends on?

Program Assessment How will we know if this project has been successful? What are the indicators of achievement? If project is not deemed successful, what is the exit strategy?

Time Line

Phase Description Time Line Phase 1 t0 to t1 months Phase 2 t1 to t2 months Phase 3 t2 to t3 months Phase 4 t3 to t4 months