Use Technology to Generate Social Impact in Your Community!
Join this Tech4Good Challenge for a chance to receive up to US$20,000 to implement your project.
Submission Deadline: 28 March 2025
Amount of Funding: up to $20,000 (USD)
Theme Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions in Low-resource Settings
Given the protracted crises and development challenges facing Lebanon and Tunisia, this call is targeted at making a contribution in the critical areas of water and/or energy. We are seeking sustainable and preferably scalable interventions particularly in the context of low resources, limited infrastructure, and economic difficulties. Given the integral connection between water and energy, it is envisioned that some innovations are able to contribute to enhancements in both domains. The objectives are to enhance the resilience of communities and reduce their dependence on external entities.
Applicants will select one of the following Technology Impact Categories related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
How to Participate
Application
Register your team of 3 – 5 people from your university, student branch, or your IEEE Section (either Lebanon or Tunisia). At least one team member should be an IEEE member, and at least one person should have an IEEE Member grade or higher.
Deadline: 28 March
Training
Participate in a virtual session hosted by IEEE Humanitarian Technologies and AUB’s Humanitarian Engineering Initiative to learn more about the fundamentals of designing practical, scalable, and sustainable solutions.
Dates: 7 & 8 April
Proposal
Apply what you have learned to propose a technical solution that you would like to deploy together with a local community.
Deadline: 19 May
Competition
Finalists will have the opportunity to attend a pitch competition either either virtually or in-person in Lebanon or Tunisia. They will present their proposed solution before a panel of judges who will select the 2 winning teams (one team per Section).
Date: June 2025
(exact dates to be determined)
Implementation
The two winning teams will receive up to US$20,000 to implement their community project over a period of six months.
Dates: July 2025 – December 2025
Additional Information and FAQs
What are the criteria to participate in the Tech4Good Challenge: Lebanon & Tunisia?
The Challenge has five phases. To participate in phase 1 & 2, the requirements are the following:
- Primary applicants/team leaders should be IEEE Members. This Challenge is open to all Member grades.
- Reside in either Lebanon or Tunisia.
- Apply with a team of 3 – 4 other people from your university, Student Branch, or IEEE Section. Each team should have at least two people who are active IEEE members.
- Be genuinely interested in participating and in the competition’s theme.
How should I present my proposal, and what will the Challenge final event be like?
After proposals are submitted, teams will be evaluated according to criteria to assess the proposed solution’s technical feasibility and potential for social impact. Selected teams will progress to the next phase as finalists and will be officially entered in the final event to present their solution before a panel of judges. Teams will have the opportunity to attend either an in-person or hybrid event in either Lebanon or Tunisia. The judges will determine the two winning teams (one per Section), who will then receive the funds to deploy their proposed solution over the course of the next six months.
Do I need to have an idea, project, or solution that is already developed?
This is not necessary. Teams will have time to develop their proposal during the initial phases of the Challenge.
Do all of the team members need to be electrical and electronic engineers?
No. At least two members of the team should be active members of IEEE. Teams are encouraged to consider having interdisciplinary teams with members of diverse backgrounds and gender.