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Student Innovation Competition

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Meet the 2024 Winners!

OO_ESG Africa Conference 2024-09088
OO_ESG Africa Conference 2024-09076
OO_ESG Africa Conference 2024-09078

The second edition of the ESG Africa Student Innovation Competition, designed to inspire and reward innovative ideas that tackle today’s pressing sustainability challenges. This is a fantastic opportunity for students across Africa to showcase their creativity, engage in critical thinking, and contribute to a sustainable and equitable future.

Competition Overview

The ESG Student Innovation Competition is open to all students from any discipline and level at African educational institutions. Our goal is to encourage fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to address environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
challenges.

Competition Topics & Themes

  • Driving an ESG Culture: Develop innovative strategies to embed sustainability and ESG into organisational culture, overcoming the challenge of viewing ESG as merely a ‘tick box’ exercise. 
  • Environmental & Social Consciousness Education: Create ideas to enhance education on ESG and sustainability, such as educational games, interactive tools, or business training programmes.
  • Leveraging Technology and Digital Solutions: Propose technological solutions to address sustainability challenges, including carbon reduction, resource efficiency, and supply chain transparency. 
  • Sustainable Supply Chains and Responsible Sourcing: Suggest creative approaches for promoting sustainability in supply chains, like traceability systems and responsible sourcing practices.
  • Social Entrepreneurship for ESG: Explore how social entrepreneurship can address ESG challenges and drive positive impact through innovative business models and initiatives

Submission guidelines – Looking for creativity, clarity and impact

Creativity – Does the abstract showcase originality and innovative thinking? Are the proposed ideas creative and distinct from conventional approaches?

Feasibility – Is the proposed solution feasible to implement in real-world scenarios? Does the abstract address potential challenges and limitations? Are the resources required for implementation reasonable and practical?

Clarity of Expression – Is the abstract well-written and easy to understand? Are the ideas presented in a clear and organized manner?

Impact Potential – Does the proposed solution have the potential to create a positive impact on the chosen challenge?

Relevance to the Chosen Challenge – Does the abstract directly relate to the selected challenge from the provided list?

Competition Structure

1. Phase 1: Proposal Submission
Students will be asked to submit a one-page abstract detailing any innovative ideas they have, to address an ESG/sustainability challenge (choosing from one of the topics listed below). Entries can be individual, or team based.

2. Phase 2: Finalist Essays
The top five finalists will be notified and will have to expand their ideas into a 3000+ word essay. This will have to be completed by the deadline given.

Winners will be announced at the ESG Africa Conference and Expo at the
Sandton Convention Centre 

All delegates to the conference will get the opportunity to listen to a presentation by the winning team.

General Guidelines for Student Innovation Challenge Eligibility

  1. Participants must be currently enrolled as students in a recognized educational institution (College, or university).
  2. Can be individuals or a team of students.
  3. All entries must be submitted by the deadline. 
  4. Each team must designate a team leader who will be the primary point of contact.
  5. Projects and ideas must be original and the work of the team members
  6.  All submissions must send in a one-page abstract 
  7. Finalists will present their innovation at the ESG event in (person or virtually) to the conference delegates.
  8. If finalists are located outside South Africa, they are invited to present and attend the conference virtually.

Prizes

• 1st Place:
R40,000 and the opportunity to present at the ESG Africa Conference.

• Runner-Up:
R10,000 and tickets to the ESG Africa Conference

Email your proposal or essay to:
hannelie@esgafricaconference.com

Our Partners Alexforbes, EW SETA, Webber Wentzel, S&P Global, and Nerdma sponsored the 2024 competition!

Your willingness to support this initiative highlights your commitment to supporting the youth and driving real change in Africa!

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