Innovative Employment Development Programs

Posted by on April 24, 2011

eBay Foundation and Changemakers Announce International Competition for Innovative Employment Development Programs
Deadline: June 15, 2011

The eBay Foundation and Ashoka’s Changemakers have launched “Powering Economic Opportunity: Create a World that Works,” an international online competition to find the most innovative market-based approaches to creating economic opportunity and generating employment for disadvantaged populations.

The competition invites entries from and nominations of individuals, organizations, and collaborations that are working to expand the qualifications of disadvantaged citizens using technology or the Internet to connect job seekers to receptive employers, or spearheading a new way of helping businesses and entrepreneurs make the most of untapped talents among their labor force. The program seeks creative, collaborative approaches and technologies that advance broad-reaching skills and job-development strategies, disseminate and leverage employment information, and open access to new markets and jobs in order to ensure today’s workers are prepared to meet the rapidly changing needs of the global economy.

To be eligible for awards, entries must indicate growth beyond the conceptual stage and have demonstrated impact and sustainability. While the competition’s sponsors support new ideas at every stage and encourage their entry, the judges are better able to evaluate programs that are beyond the conceptual stage and have demonstrated some proof of impact. The best entries will be those that have demonstrated impact, are prepared to scale, and have sought partners to expand their reach.

Individuals, organizations, and collaborations from around the world are eligible to enter. Entries must be completed in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French.

Five winners will each receive a cash prize of $50,000. Three entries submitted by the early entry deadline of May 11, 2011, will be selected to receive awards of $1,000. Selected entries will have the opportunity to establish a longer term partnership with the eBay Foundation.

Visit the Changemakers Web Site for complete competition information and entry procedures.

http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/economicopportunity