The Climate Resilience Challenge is a competition for innovative interdisciplinary and solution-oriented ideas to build and enhance resilience in the country.
For 2020, ideas must focus on transformative national, provincial or local strategies that Private Sector Actors can take on to address the climate risks of a vulnerable sector or community.
Resilience solutions may address challenges in the following priority areas:
Food and water security
Climate change threatens the country’s water and food security. There is a critical and urgent need to develop solutions and climate change-responsive technologies, and make them available and accessible. We are looking for the following solutions:
- those that reduce the impacts of a more variable and unpredictable weather and short-term climate, increased and more intense climate shocks and long-term climate changes to food production and water sufficiency;
- technologies and investments in water resources management and irrigation infrastructure, agricultural management and production, and extension services, innovations in the entire food/water supply-value chain, among others; and
- those that develop and enhance capacity in climate risk management and adaptation.
Livelihood and essential services
As climate change impacts cut across sectors, livelihoods and essential services are highly at risk. Sustainable livelihood programs and initiatives are needed, and improvement of essential services (such as access to water, food, housing, education and health) are critical to the impacts of climate change and variability, and reduce vulnerabilities. We are looking for solutions what will:
- develop innovative and all-inclusive strategies and business models that ensure livelihoods are available, accessible, secured and sustained and that essential services and resources are mobilized so that vulnerable sectors can earn an income and meet basic needs, both in the short- and long-term;
- build capacities and capabilities and create access to needed assets and essential services, to empower the vulnerable sectors to adapt to the impacts of climate variabilities and change; and
- develop new forms of livelihoods or business models that enhance community resilience against threats and emergencies.
Climate-Health Systems
Climate change affects human health by exacerbating pre-existing health problems. This is compounded by overpopulation, poor urban planning, lack of or poor facilities in rural communities, increasing poverty incidence, and complications brought about by weather-related events to responses to health crises, such as COVID-19. A more systemic and holistic approach that involves cooperation and partnership between government and private sector is needed to address the combined risks of a health emergency such as COVID-19, climate crisis, and extreme weather events. We are looking for solutions that will:
- develop more resilient healthcare system structures and business models to address and adapt to multiple hazards, such as a public health emergency and the climate crisis;
- develop improved, systemic and forward-thinking protocols and capacities to multi-crisis/multi-hazard planning, response, recovery and risk management;
- feature innovative investments, strategies and business models that can strengthen resilience to both a health emergency and a climate crisis; and
- develop solutions and interventions to the mobilization of resources from multiple actors, including government, private sector, and civil sector.
The most impactful solutions will be presented to the public and awarded cash prizes.
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUBMITTED THEIR SOLUTIONS.
Challenge Overview
What is the Climate Resilience Challenge?
The Climate Resilience Challenge is a competition for innovative interdisciplinary and solutions-oriented ideas to build and enhance climate resilience in the country.
Who can join?
The Challenge is open to any number of individual researchers, departments, centers or groups representing higher education institutions that have Level IV PAASCU Accreditation.
Participating individuals or team members must be legal residents of the Philippines. They must submit a formal certification of official recognition by their school, college or university. (Download sample certification here.) Participants must also make themselves available to participate in workshops and all other Climate Resilience Challenge-related activities as part of the selection process.
Who cannot join the challenge?
Employees of the OML Center, Energy Development Corporation, and its parent company, affiliates and subsidiaries, and active service providers for this Challenge, their respective immediate family members and those living in the same household.
Partners, grants or other initiatives that are already financed or supported by the OML Center and/or Energy Development Corporation, its affiliates, subsidiaries or joint ventures.
Is there a format for submissions?
Yes. Entries must be in English and must be filed through the dedicated online submission form which will ask for items such as problem statement and innovative solution. Any applications via email will be automatically disqualified.
The submission form will ask for the following information: your contact information, school represented, proof of eligibility (proof of residency and official recognition by your school, college or university), team information (if you are part of a team), and the proposed solution.
How do you define Private Sector Actors?
For purposes of this competition, Private Sector Actors shall refer to private individuals or groups of various sizes that contribute to economic development and are perceived as playing a role in the sustainable development of urban and rural areas, in influencing poverty reduction, in promoting human capital development, and in directly contributing to relief efforts.
Is there a limit to the number of entries?
There is no limit to the number of submissions from each individual or team.
When is the deadline for submissions?
Submissions must be received by the OML Center on or before September 11, 2020 (Friday), 23:59 PST.
How will submissions be evaluated and who will evaluate them?
Submissions will be screened based on (1) scientific evidence to the problem, (2) operational sustainability, (3) innovative approach, and (4) impact.
Screening for eligibility will be conducted by OML Center representatives. Second screening will be made by a panel of private and public sector representatives. Final judging will be conducted by representatives of the OML Center Board of Trustees.
What happens next after the submission of entry/ries?
Eligible entries will be invited to participate in development and ideation sessions to have an opportunity to connect with public sector representatives that may further inform and private sector representatives that may potentially implement the solution. Participants will then be given an opportunity to revise their submissions prior to second screening.
How will the best submissions be recognized?
The most impactful solutions (up to 3) will be awarded PhP150,000 each. Other finalists (up to 7) will receive PhP50,000 each. The solutions will also be presented to the public.
Terms and Conditions
Ownership of Entries and Intellectual Property Rights. All intellectual property rights, title and interest in and to entries/solutions to climate risks and vulnerabilities, supporting documents and related materials prepared jointly in the course of, or in relation to, the Climate Resilience Challenge shall be owned jointly by the respective Applicant and the OML Center. However, either party may not use the entry or any materials used in the Climate Resilience Challenge for profit-generating activities, except upon prior written consent from the other Party.
Either party agrees to grant to the other party the non-exclusive right to use the logos, trademarks, characters, designs, format, style, showcase symbols, slogans and other marks, whether registered or unregistered, owned by or associated with such other party (including any name, trademark, or logo that may be subsequently adopted by OML Center for the Climate Resilience Challenge), for publicity and promotion purposes of the Climate Resilience Challenge. However, such use must have prior notification and consent of the party owning such intellectual property right.
Except as authorized herein, neither party shall cause or attempt to create, assert, register, or use the name, other trademarks, or service marks associated with the other party, its parent company, affiliated companies and subsidiaries, whether now or at any time in the future, whether by itself or as part of any other trademark, trade name, domain name, or other material without the prior written consent of the other party.
Other discoveries and products derived from participation in the Climate Resilience Challenge shall be owned by the initiating Party, provided that the other Party is duly informed in writing of such discovery or product. Parties may negotiate sharing of rights.
The Parties, as joint owners of the intellectual property rights set out in the preceding sub-clauses, shall have the right to use and report the data without the need of consent of the other Party, provided that the same shall be used for research, and other non-commercial public service purpose. Any other use shall require the prior approval of the other Party.
Any intellectual property right existing at the time of the submission shall remain with its respective owner.
Both Parties recognize that, to maximize positive impact and benefit to the community, any knowledge/information/data developed through the Climate Resilience Challenge shall be published at the OML Center website and other public platforms for non-commercial public use and public purpose. Each Party shall furnish the other Party with copies of all published or unpublished reports and articles, as well as aired materials in relation to the Climate Resilience Challenge, including any entry/solution submitted thereto. Both Parties agree to credit the other Party in any future publications, collaterals or public relations materials relating to the entry/solution and the Climate Resilience Challenge.
All major reports or articles for publication, or communication or media products for public airing, posting or dissemination, based on the Program output or results shall be made jointly in the name of the respective Applicant and the OML Center, together with the name/s of the proponents involved.