Application Deadline: September 30, 2020
Juntosesmejor is a global initiative that seeks to identify, finance and scale innovative solutions from anywhere in the world to provide immediate long-term support to Venezuelans affected by the crisis in the Venezuela region. Together, it is the best association between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Bank.
THE PROBLEM.
Venezuela is experiencing a man-made political, social, and economic crisis with
devastating hyperinflation that has led to severe shortage of food and health care and driven over four
million people to flee the country. This outflow of vulnerable Venezuelans is straining the delivery of basic
l services, infrastructure, and labor markets as well as community relations in neighboring countries,
including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Panamá, Perú, and Trinidad and Tobago.
THE SOLUTION.
The Better Together Challenge/Juntos Es Mejor Challenge (“the Challenge”) is a global
initiative to crowdsource, fund, and scale forward-thinking solutions from Venezuelans, both inside their
country and among the diaspora, host communities, and others to provide immediate support to alleviate
the effects of this regional crisis.
It aims to help rebuild and strengthen communities as well as enable and empower Venezuelan voices, providing them with tools to create better lives for themselves.
THE CHALLENGE.
The Challenge will launch an online platform with a global open call for solutions in the areas of People, Productivity, Services and Finance. The Challenge also will convene co-design events;consult with key stakeholders from governments, the private sector, and non-governmental, and faith-based organizations to identify immediate, critical gaps in humanitarian and development assistance; and engage Venezuelan and host communities to refine and implement proposed solutions.
The Challenge aims to accomplish the following:
• Elevate Venezuelan voices and ingenuity to answer needs in Venezuela and across the region;
• Connect Venezuelans and host communities, and the world’s collective genius to develop innovative
solutions;
• Expand networks across communities and countries to promote relationships and collaboration;
• Fund, test, and scale ideas; and
• Build a marketplace of tested, market-ready solutions.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements to participate in the Challenge:
• Type. Eligible organizations for the Challenge include the following:
• National, regional, and local organizations;
• NGOs (U.S. and non-U.S.);
• Indigenous organizations and community-based entities;
• Foundations;
• Private enterprises or firms, including start-ups;
• Business associations;
• Faith-based organizations;
• Women-owned/women-led enterprises; and
• Universities, academia and think tanks.
• Size.
The Challenge is open to all eligible organizations, regardless of size. We encourage applications
from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Organizational Capacity.
Applicants must successfully complete all pre-award requirements and
have the capacity to manage and spend funds compliantly. Additionally, the organization must be legally
registered (possess government certification of registration).
Location.
• Applicants may be located anywhere in the world, including from inside Venezuela.
• Applicants must implement proposed solutions in one or more of the target geographies
listed in Section I(B)(II).
• Applicants must either already have a presence in the proposed country of implementation
or must have a local partner and provide supporting documentation of that partnership.
Language.
Applicants may submit concept papers in English or Spanish.
• Impact. Solutions must be directly related to the regional Venezuela crisis, the focal areas outlined in
Section I, and benefit those affected by the regional crisis.
How The Challenge Works
The challenge will allow:
- Raise the voice and ingenuity of Venezuelans to respond to the needs of the regional crisis and report their specific problems to those who propose solutions;
- Connect Venezuelans, host communities and creative minds from anywhere in the world to promote the development of innovative solutions;
- Expand networks between communities and countries to promote collaboration;
- Finance, test, and scale solutions;
- Build an inventory of solutions tested and ready to be implemented.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the USAID JuntosEsMejor/ BetterTogether Challenge 2020