World Bank Mission Billion Challenge “WURI West Africa Prize” 2020

The World Bank Group announced today the launch of the Mission Billion Challenge “WURI West Africa Prize” to seek innovative solutions that augment inclusion of informal workers in social protection through flexible benefits platforms and identification systems. 

Application Deadline: 14th August 2020

About the Award: The West Africa Unique Identification for Regional Integration and Inclusion (WURI) program facilitates access to services through foundational identification platforms for all persons in participating territories. The Mission Billion Challenge is hosted by the World Bank’s Identification for Development (ID4D) initiative. The WURI West Africa Prize is supported by ID4D, Rapid Social Response Program (RSR) and Disruptive Technologies for Development (DT4D).

The 2020 Mission Billion Challenge comes at a time of an unprecedented global crisis. The pandemic highlights the importance of platforms (such as foundational IDs, government to person (G2P) payments, and social registries) to quickly scale up or to introduce new social protection programs. Countries with such platforms have been able to efficiently deliver relief payments to informal workers, migrant workers, and other vulnerable populations who are difficult to identify and not commonly included in social safety nets. 

Type: Contest

Eligibility: The WURI West Africa Prize is seeking innovative solutions that facilitate cross border contributions to social insurance programs, such as pensions and savings accounts, by informal sector workers. More than 80 percent of workers in Sub Saharan Africa are in the informal sector, and nearly 90 percent of employed women are informal workers. 

Individuals and organizations with a strong passion for developing innovative solutions are encouraged to apply. Submitted solutions to the Challenge will be reviewed by experts in social protection platforms, digital identification and international development.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award:

• The Challenge offers cash prizes totaling US$150,000 for the most promising ideas that help countries to include informal workers in shock-responsive social protection programs. 
• Finalists will receive mentorship and support from Google Developers Experts and be invited to a high-level Mission Billion event to present their solutions to distinguished judges in October 2020.

How to Apply: To learn more about the Challenge, visit: https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/wuri-mission-billion-2020 or https://id4d.worldbank.org/missionbillion/west-africa-prize-overview

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
• GOODLUCK

Visit Award Webpage for Details