Request for Proposals C ollaborative Solutions for Poverty C ompetition Summer 2015 Deadline: May 22, 2015 Anticipated Award Notification: June 1, 2015 Purpose: The Blum Center for Poverty, Social Enterprise, and Participatory Governance invites UCSC students and faculty to submit a proposal of design or technology based solution with the capacity to be applied to real world poverty related problems in related areas such as financial inclusion, energy, water, health, and services. Successful concepts will be community oriented and will combine design, architectural, engineering, and/or IT approach with research and knowledge of poverty alleviation, development and the social sciences. Award: Applicants submitting the top proposals will be invited to present their concepts to experts and community to be held May 29, 2015. Successfully reviewed submissions will be awarded up to $10,000. Three proposals will be funded. Evaluation C riteria: Proposals received by the submission deadline will be prescreened for eligibility by staff. A panel of faculty and experts will rank eligible applications. Proposals will be judged according to the following criteria: 1. Impact of Concept: The proposal should articulate a concept with the potential to have a clear impact on a pressing poverty-related challenge. The proposed solution should be innovative and research-driven, closely connecting the technological idea with an economic or social obstacle. 2. Feasibility of Idea: The specific obstacle to be addressed by the concept should be well defined. The idea and approach should be realistic and the resources needed should be clearly outlined. 3. Vision for Scale: The concept has the compelling long-term vision and the potential to advance a larger effort. The idea has potential for scalability and/or multiple avenues of application. The concept narrative is limited to approximately 750 words total and should include the following: • Poverty Challenge: What is the specific social or economic obstacle you seek to address? Who would benefit from the development of this concept? What community partner will you collaborate with in the application of your research? • Innovation Idea: Describe the solution that you propose to develop. Base your description on the following questions: - what do you foresee as the mechanism for implementing this idea – To the best of your knowledge, do similar approaches already exist? Why do you think your innovation could be more promising (e.g. cost effective, versatile than existing alternatives? • Approach and Development Strategy: How does your approach translate into improved outcomes for impoverished communities? Provide a rough outline of the resources needed to advance your idea from conception to prototype. Application Instructions: All applications should be submitted by 11:59pm US Pacific time on May 22, 2015 to the online form at: http://goo.gl/forms/YVoeo2jlP2 For examples of project ideas, check out: http://dil.berkeley.edu/technology-portfolio/current-projects/ A copy of this proposal call can be found at our website at: http://blumcenter.ucsc.edu/academics/grant-opportunities/ Any updates posted online will supersede previously circulated or posted materials. If your proposal is awarded, applicants may need to apply for IRB approval/exemption and fill out a waiver of liability For Additional Questions C ontact: Lisa Nishioka, Program Manager, UCSC Blum Center, [email protected].