The Cities Alliance's Urban Mekong Corridor Initiative (UMCI) is launching the Civil Society Award for Inclusive and Green Urban Development in Mekong River Cities.
Open to initiatives in UMCI cities in Cambodia (Kampong Cham, Kratie, Phnom Penh), Lao PDR (Kaysone, Pakse, Vientiane), and Vietnam (Can Tho), the award celebrates projects led by civil society organizations and social enterprises that foster inclusive, resilient, and green urban spaces in collaboration with local authorities.
By showcasing successful partnerships, the award aims to inspire role models across the Mekong and promote innovative urban development grounded in inclusivity and collaboration.
Prizes:
1st Place: US$2,500
2nd Place: US$1,500
3rd Place: US$1,000
Award Criteria
The award highlights initiatives that achieve:
1. Inclusive and green urban development:
- Projects that address climate resilience (e.g., flood management, waste reduction, urban green spaces).
- Efforts that improve access to jobs, services, and protections for all, especially women and youth.
2. Collaboration with local authorities:
- Strong partnerships with city governments using community-led decision-making and inclusive consultations.
- Engagement of women and youth as leaders in urban development.
3. Empowering youth and women for the common good:
- Projects that provide leadership opportunities or skills training for women and young people.
- Examples include youth-led environmental actions or women’s economic empowerment initiatives.
Application Guidelines
Application language: English. While the use of AI translation tools is allowed, applicants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the submitted content.
Applications must include following information:
1. Project Overview:
- Basic information: Provide a brief background of your organisation including registration details, contact information, city and neighbourhood of the project and its timeframe.
- Executive summary: Explain the project's impact, the work with public authorities and how it empowers youth and women (500 words max.)
2. Demonstrating Impact:
- Quantitative and qualitative impact: Provide evidence of results, both figures (e.g., people reached, area covered) and stories, showing how the project has improved social, economic, or environmental conditions. If possible, include data that illustrates the scale and depth of these changes.
- Inclusion and equity: Examples of how the project benefits marginalised groups and rural-urban migrants, particularly women and youth. How it has improved opportunities, safety, or living conditions for these groups.
- Partnerships with local authorities: Detail how your organisation has worked with city governments or local institutions, how these collaborations have strengthened project effectiveness and the benefit for the broader community.
- Key takeaways: Highlight lessons that other civil society organizations can learn from your experience. Focus on insights that might be useful for similar initiatives in other UMCI cities.
- Long-term vision: Describe plans to ensure your project’s impact lasts in the long term. and ensure that the benefits to the community remain sustainable over time and/or can be expanded.
* The combined length of sections 1 and 2 must not exceed five pages in Word format. Exceeding this limit will disqualify the application.
3. Supporting Materials:
- Visuals and data: Include up to 10 photos, a 3-minute video (or shorter), infographics, or charts showing the project’s impact.
- Additional resources: Provide links to reports, websites, or other resources that explain your work.
How to Apply
Completed applications should be submitted via email to ca-proposal@citiesalliance.org
Deadline: 17 February 2025
- Projects will be assessed by experts based on impact, sustainability, collaboration, and innovation.
- Shortlisted projects may be invited for an interview or virtual presentation.
- Winners will be announced on 31 March 2025 and will receive support to promote their initiatives through regional networks and media.
About the Urban Mekong Corridor Initiative (UMCI)
The UMCI addresses challenges in rapidly urbanizing Mekong River cities, including climate change, water impacts, and economic exclusion, particularly affecting women, youth, and marginalized groups. By linking cities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam, the initiative promotes regional cooperation and shares best practices in urban resilience and inclusivity.
It fosters collaboration among local governments, civil society, and the private sector to ensure urban development is inclusive and sustainable. Local organizations and enterprises play a key role, bridging communities and authorities, amplifying underrepresented voices, and building social cohesion.
UMCI is part of the Global Resilient Systems of Secondary Cities and Migration Dynamics programme supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
