Development Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grant program administered by the World Bank and supported by various partners that identifies and funds innovative, early-stage projects with high potential for development impact. This year’s theme is Youth Developing Opportunity: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Sustainability, in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

This competition recognizes innovation across this spectrum, and will reward projects that focus on reducing poverty, enriching lives and generating productive, healthy citizens. A central focus of this competition will therefore be on ideas that have the potential to create employment for young people and bring associated benefits to communities and society at large.

The awardees will have programs that are youth-led and/or youth-focused in the following areas:

• The commercialization of locally produced biodiversity and agricultural products without degrading source habitats.
• Innovative approaches to income generating opportunities for young people living in poor urban areas that are “hot spots” of crime and violence
• Social and economic initiatives that contribute to the well-being of vulnerable groups

Since the goal is to fund innovation in youth-focused development, grants will be given to projects in either the pilot stage (5,000-15,000 dollars), or the scale-up stage (20,000-35,000 dollars). Find out more about eligibility and the DM by following the link below.

Finalists for this grant competition will present at the LAC Development Marketplace & Knowledge Exchange Forum, an event meant to showcase exemplary projects and provide a forum for networking and sharing knowledge.