Thank you for being a reviewer for the Young African Climate Changemakers Challenge (YACC)!
This challenge , spanning South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Botswana aims to ignite the ingenuity and resourcefulness of young minds aged 16 to 25, to spearhead a greener, more sustainable future.
We seek individuals who not only pioneer innovative ideas and initiatives but also inspire others to join the cause, contributing to the creation of a more resilient and just society.
Before reviewing, please make sure you read through the challenge website to understand what our focus is.
All applications are evaluated against the same 4 evaluation criteria: Changemaker Qualities, Connection & Community, Innovation, Sustainability & Scalability.
Please use the following rubric when evaluating applicants:
CHANGEMAKER QUALITIES
On a scale of 1-5 (1 = not at all, and 5 = absolutely yes), is this applicant passionate about making a change for the good of all? Are they unlocking their agency by solving climate change problems while also activating others to take action?
Criteria 1 2 3 4 5
Changemaker
Qualities
The applicant does not clearly articulate their passion and drive as a leader of change. The applicant does not mention attempts to mobilise/ activate others to take action.
The applicant is somewhat clear in their articulation of their passion and drive. The applicant mentions the importance of activating others to take action.
The applicant clearly articulates their passion and drive. The applicant articulates an attempt to activate others to take action.
The applicant clearly articulates their passion and drive and has included some helpful details. The applicant includes some details on how they activate others to take action.
The applicant clearly articulates their passion and drive and has included a reasonable amount of details. The applicant shares reasonable details and examples on how they value and activate others to take action.
CONNECTION & COMMUNITY
On a scale of 1-5 (1 = not at all, and 5 = absolutely yes), does this applicant have a strong commitment and deep understanding of the problem they are trying to address? Do their ideas and innovations involve community participation and are they driven by the aim of creating resilient communities?
Criteria 1 2 3 4 5
Connection & Community
The applicant does not clearly articulate the problem. They don’t explain why solving it is important for a community they are part of. They haven’t mentioned their personal connection to the problem or how they are informed by communities most impacted by it.
The applicant somewhat describes the problem, but it is not clear.
They somewhat describe why the problem is relevant, but not why it is specifically relevant to a community they are a part of.
Pieces about their connection to the problem or community are mentioned but not clearly connected.
The applicant described the problem clearly. They vaguely describe why finding a solution is important to the community they are a part of.
They talk about their connection to the problem or the impacted community but haven’t fully articulated it.
The applicant has clearly stated the problem with detail. They stated why finding a solution to this problem is important to their community.
They have shared their personal connection to the problem or the impacted community.
The applicant clearly articulates and demonstrates a deep understanding of the problem they are solving. They’ve clearly identified why finding a solution is important to their community.
They have shared or shown a deep personal connection to the challenge or to the community affected by this problem.
INNOVATION
On a scale of 1-5 (1 = not at all, and 5 = absolutely yes), how original and creative is this initiative/idea/solution? Did they invent something, are they using technology and/or indigenous knowledge and/or existing solutions in new ways?
Criteria
Innovation
The applicant doesn’t mention what is unique about their solution, or they share a solution that is already commonly implemented in the way they are proposing.
The applicant vaguely provides some information on what is unique about their idea, or proposes an idea that doesn’t innovate much.
The applicant provides information on what is unique about their idea, but there are still gaps in the information provided.
The applicant provides a unique perspective to the problem, or is addressing a unique audience, or a unique problem that has been overlooked.
The applicant provides a highly innovative solution to the problem, or is addressing a unique audience, or a unique problem that has been overlooked.
SUSTAINABILITY & SCALABILITY
On a scale of 1-5 (1 = not at all, and 5 = absolutely yes), does this applicant have plans for continuing to create impact in the long-run through (a) the feasibility, scalability, replicability and adaptability of their solution in local contexts; and/or (b) mobilising resources such as team members, partnerships, funding or other support networks?
Sustainability and Scalability
The applicant does not articulate how they will make a lasting impact at scale. They haven’t indicated any effort to find resources, a team, or partners.
The applicant is not able to articulate how their idea will have a lasting and wider impact at scale. They have identified some of the obvious resources or partners available.
The applicant can articulate their impact, but only at a superficial or short-term level.
They have identified some resources and partners they need to mobilise and have some ideas on how to do so.
The applicant has clearly described the impact they will have with a long-term and wide perspective. They identified some resources and partners they need to mobilise and have a plan on how to do so.
The applicant describes with detail and/or evidence how the idea will have deep and lasting impact with a long-term perspective. They have clearly indicated a plan to mobilise resources, a team, and partners that align with their work with the potential to multiply their impact.