GenAI for Good Challenge

• Platform Submission
  Applicants must complete all mandatory Phase 1 submissions on both the Foundant and Zindi platforms (applications to be released with application open date)
• Use Case Alignment
  Proposed solutions must directly address a designated municipal use case in Pristina, Rivne, or Skopje.
• 1- Year Commitment
  In accordance with the official Terms and Conditions, teams are required to commit to participating across all stages of the competition throughout the coming year, including the sprint, prototyping, and piloting phases.
• Team Composition
  Teams must be informal groups of at least two (2) individuals (corporate entities or organizations are ineligible). Every team member must be 18 years of age or older.
• Geographic Eligibility & Sanctions
  Open to legal residents of the United States and international jurisdictions where permitted by local law, provided that no team member is subject to applicable sanctions or listed on relevant restricted-party lists, including United Nations and United States sanctions lists. Residents of any country or jurisdiction subject to U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC) sanctions are excluded from participation.
• Open-Source Licensing
  Teams must agree to release all project code, data, documentation, and models under an approved permissive open-source license (e.g., Apache 2.0, MIT, or equivalent) without seeking personal financial gain or patent rights.
• GENIE. AI
  Utilization of the GENIE.AI framework is strongly encouraged.

Phase 1 (Open Call):

• Step 1 (Technical Skills Assessment):
  Candidates are filtered by performance through a skills assessment on the Zindi Platform. The top 100 technical performers move to panel evaluation.
• Step 2 (Panel Review):
  A panel reviews narrative submissions using the following core criteria:
  • Use Case Alignment (20%):
    The application demonstrates a clear understanding of the city use case and showing how the proposed solution directly addresses its key challenges
  • Impact Potential (25%):
    The application demonstrates expected value and outcome of deploying the solution using a responsible, inclusive, and open-source design
  • Team Capability (20%):
    The application demonstrates technical expertise, related experience, and readiness to collaborate with the use case owner

Phase 2 (Semi-Finalists):
Reviewers will evaluate the updated narrative proposals, reflecting key insights and expertise gained during the Use Case Sprint, using the core evaluation categories listed in Phase 1 (Technical Approach, Impact Potential, Use Case Alignment, and Team Capability).

Phase 3 (Finalists):
Reviewers will evaluate the prototypes and narrative applications and live pitch presentation on the core evaluation categories listed in Phase 1 (Technical Approach, Impact Potential, Use Case Alignment, and Team Capability).

• Up to $40,000 in funding – $10,000 to build your prototype, plus up to $30,000 more if your team is selected to pilot it with a city.
• Real deployment – build your solution directly with a city government solving a problem they actually have, not a hypothetical.
• Expert mentorship – hands-on technical guidance from IEEE’s global network of engineers and reviewers, paired with UNDP’s public-sector and municipal expertise.
• A structured path from idea to impact – workshops, 1:1 sessions, and milestone-based support through a use case sprint, prototyping, and piloting.
• Global visibility – top teams pitch and showcase their work at a Pitch Competition, with a platform on the international stage.
• A real pathway to scale – successful pilots come with a plan for adoption and replication in other cities, not a one-off.

Deadline:
All steps must be completed by 13 December. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered for review.

Step 1: Review Key Guidelines
Carefully review all eligibility requirements, challenge phases, and the project timeline.

Step 2: Select Your Use Case
Read the full details of the specific Use Case you are applying to.

Step 3: Submit Required Materials (All materials will be released by 5 November)
Complete and submit all three application components across their designated platforms:

• Eligibility Quiz
  A brief screening tool to verify your team’s eligibility.
• Narrative Proposal (Funding Portal)
  A structured proposal detailing your solution concept and problem-solving approach.
• Technical Assessment (Zindi)
  A practical skills evaluation to demonstrate your technical proficiency.