The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH created the Decentralized Development Lab (DDLab), which was commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the “Bund-Länder-Programm – German Government and Federal States Programme (BLP).”
The project is being carried out in partnership with minds & makers and enpact e.V.
The Decentralized Development Lab (DDLab) aims to address the challenge of sustainable development by bringing together actors from decentralized levels of state such as cities, regions, and districts to find innovative solutions and establish partnerships across countries.
Requirements
We are looking for individuals and gender-diverse teams with various backgrounds and experiences who can contribute their expertise and creative energy to one of the four challenges. At this early stage, it is more important that we create strong teams than having your ideas fully elaborated yet.
- Social and public innovators, social entrepreneurs, innovative start-ups, and socially-oriented small and micro-enterprises.
- Experts for topics that are related to the challenges: Researchers & PhDs, research institutions and associations, universities, and colleges.
- Governmental and quasi-governmental institutions.
- Experts for new technologies, programmers, and digital entrepreneurs.
Benefits
- Technical and financial support equivalent of up to 50,000€ for your team and the chance to win a follow-up package worth up to 200,000€.
- Access to an international network of subject matter experts, agile coaches, public and social innovators, and creative minds.
- Accompanying events and workshops to connect and co-create with other idea providers.
- 1-on-1 coaching curated tools, and content to support your journey through the Decentralized Development Lab.
The Challenges
Representatives from the German federal states and their partner countries have submitted numerous development challenges as part of an international Call for Challenges. Four of which were selected to be addressed in the Decentralized Development Lab.
- E-Mobility Solutions
How might we attract (public and private) investments in e-bus infrastructure and vehicles? - Mangrove-friendly Aquaculture
How might aquaculture become mangrove-friendly, and how might smallholders get involved in the development? - Rural Female Entrepreneurship
How might we untap the potential of female entrepreneurship for the green and the digital future of rural regions? - Inclusive Digitalization
How might we make active citizen participation inclusive for silent groups by involving them in the development of suitable solutions like One-Stop Shops?
Program Timeline
December 19th, 2021 – Idea submission deadline.
December 31st, 2021 – Deadline to submit the final application form.
January 3rd to 16th 2022 – Short-listing.
January 24th to February 4th – Interviews.
January 24th to February 4th – Evaluation of post-interviews.
February 7th, 2022 – Announcement of the four selected teams.
End of February 2022 – Kick-off of the 5-month incubation program.
End of July 2022 – Pitch event and selection of the winning team.
Early August 2022 – Kick-off of the 7-month accelerator program for the winning team.
End of February 2023 – Closing of Program.
