IEEE Tech4Good Projects Call for Proposals
IEEE Region 8 and IEEE Tech4Good (T4G) are partnering to conduct a collaborative call for proposals to support SIGHT Groups (and prospective SIGHT Groups) in Region 8 who would like to address local community challenges.
The IEEE T4G program offers funding opportunities to support grassroots technological projects, led by IEEE members, that address local challenges related to sustainable development.
The IEEE Region 8 Humanitarian Technology Activities Committee (R8 HTAC) takes a futurist approach aiding the development of innovative methods to support underserved communities within the region in addressing needs to improve livelihood. The core aim of this call for proposals is to support SIGHT Groups in the region with great initiatives and creative technological solutions for local communities. Proposed solutions must have a sustainability plan in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and take into account cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, trust-enhancement, relevance to users and community, community buy-in, and accessibility.
Technology Impact Categories
The local projects should include specific social impact goals to enhance and improve agricultural, clean water, educational, and/or energy technology. Applicants must select a focus area for their proposal to be considered.
The Tech4Good and Region 8 Community Support Program reviewers will select at least 2 projects aligned to each of the Technology Impact Categories for funding. If a category does not receive a sufficient number of strong proposals, funding additional projects aligned to the other categories may be considered.
Funding Specifications
Amount of Funding: Project grants will be between US$1,000 and US$5,000 per project.
Term of Funding: Project implementation plans may be up to six months following the project start date.
Eligibility to Apply
- Each SIGHT Group from Region 8 may submit only one proposal.
- The primary applicant must be an IEEE Professional member or higher in good standing. Student members may be secondary applicants.
- Project teams that received Tech4Good funding for a project in the past may apply if the project has been completed and all reporting requirements fulfilled.
Submission Process
- Applicants will progress through two stages of evaluation.
- The initial Letter of Intent may be submitted using the Online Funding Opportunities Portal starting 06 June 2025 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage applicants to submit their letters of intent as soon as possible.
- Deadline to submit the Letter of Intent: 01 August 2025.
- Applicants with a Letter of Intent that passes the first round of evaluation will be invited to submit a complete proposal. They will have two weeks to submit after receiving feedback from the first evaluation.
Timeframe to Use Funds, Assessment & Reporting
- Funds must be spent within six (6) months from the approved project start date.
- A brief progress report must be submitted every month after the project’s approved start date.
- A final report with an accounting of expenses and impact assessment information demonstrating the successful deployment of the solution must be submitted within 60 days of the project’s completion.
Applicant Resources
Call for Proposals
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire Call for Proposals for more detailed information including eligible budget items, legal and compliance requirements, and proposal requirements.Applicants are also encouraged to review the application prior to beginning their submission. Please keep in mind that only applications submitted through the Online Funding Opportunities Portal will be evaluated. Application Questions (Letter of Intent and complete proposal) may be referenced beforehand.
Evaluation Criteria
- Benefits to the local community are well articulated and show clear impact metric targets.
- Project scope is defined and meets technological and sustainable development requirements.
- Team composition demonstrates the strength of team and members’ technical capacity.
- Potential risks have been assessed and the team has prepared a feasible mitigation plan.
- Involvement of local organizations and stakeholders ensures the long-term sustainability of the technological intervention.
- Clear potential for social and environmental impact with attainable success metrics.
- Alignment with IEEE’s mission of advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
What to Include in a Proposal
- Clearly articulate how the project addresses a sustainable development challenge in your local community.
- Focus on the implementation of appropriate, IEEE-relevant technology.
- Demonstrate a connection with your local IEEE organizational unit(s) (OUs) and engage a significant number of IEEE members currently living in the country where the project takes place.
- Ensure your team has the relevant expertise to execute the project.
- Actively involve the local community in determining what is needed and how the project will be designed and executed.
- Include a thorough sustainability plan that includes educational efforts to ensure that local communities can manage the deployed solution after the six months term of funding.
- Clearly articulate the impact of the project and how it will be measured.
What to Avoid in a Proposal
- Proposals that are primarily research or commercial in nature.
- Proposals that are solely focused on STEM education. No direct correlation to a challenge faced by a specific community, or the community is not actively involved.
- No deployment, customization, and/or development of technology.
- Proposals without a clear plan for impact measurement.
- Proposals that solely deal with immediate disaster relief. All projects related to disaster preparedness or recovery should focus on medium- and longer-term needs.
- Proposals focused on developing medical devices or medical device prototypes.
This session on the 2025 Tech4Good program and call for proposals from committee Chair Matthew Imhoff covers planning Tech4Good projects, checklists for applicants, submitting a strong proposal, and an overview of the application and decision process.
Contact Information
Do you have any questions about the suitability of your proposal or the application platform? If so, please write to humanitarian@ieeer8.org before writing and submitting your proposal.