Mombasa Plastics Prize Competitor Handbook

Mombasa Plastics Prize

Introduction

Our Mombasa Plastics Prize aims to encourage innovation and awareness amongst aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders (ages 18 25) in Mombasa County, by inspiring the development of solutions that tackle the problem of plastic waste mismanagement within informal settlements

The prize, funded by USAID and the Government of Canada, is being managed by Challenge Works in close collaboration with other organizations working across the innovation ecosystem in Mombasa.

This prize builds on the work of the Afri Plastics Challenge, which aims to reduce marine plastics in sub Saharan African countries by developing and scaling innovative solutions to plastic mismanagement.

How to use the handbook

This document will provide you with all the information you need to enter the prize, including:

● Section 1 Making an application

● Section 2 Prize structure and timeline

● Section 3 Judging process

● Section 4 - Creating your Google account

If you can’t find the answer you are looking for in these documents, please look at the frequently asked questions (FAQs) or contact the team at mombasaplastics@challenges org

Section 1 - Making an application

Submission process

We are delighted that you are entering the Mombasa Plastics Prize!

All entries must be submitted by 08 November 2022 at 11 59PM EAT Late entries will not be accepted.

To compete, fill out a short online Google form, including a short video.

You will need a Google account to fill out this form Please go to Section 4 of this handbook to see a step by step guide on creating this account, if you do not already have one.

Your video should be 3 5 minutes long and cover the following point (please note that you will not be judged on the quality of your video editing):

1 Introduce and tell us three words that you would use to describe yourself

2. Tell us why you are interested in tackling marine plastic waste pollution in informal settlements, or slums, in Mombasa County.

3 Share an imaginative idea outlining how you could tackle this problem (The more creative the better! This doesn’t need to be fully developed yet).

4. Tell us about a time when you solved a problem. Please explain what the problem was and how you tackled this (This can be during your studies, at work, in your community, or elsewhere)

5. Tell us a time when you have worked effectively and inclusively with other people and explain how you did this (This can be during your studies, at work, in your community, or elsewhere)

6. Tell us why you should be a finalist and how you'd show your commitment to the program.

Before submitting your entry, please also ensure that you:

● Read and understand the privacy policy

● Read and understand the terms & conditions, which are the rules entrants are required to agree to in order to take part in the prize.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive prize. If you need help completing your entry due to physical, mental, financial, or technological barriers, please contact us at mombasaplastics@challenges org to request a reasonable accommodation

Mombasa

Mombasa Plastics Prize

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to enter the Mombasa Plastics Prize, competitors must:

● Compete as an individual;

● Compete in English;

● Reside in Mombasa County;

● Be between 18 25 years old;

● Have an interest in tackling plastic waste in informal settlements in Mombasa;

● Have a willingness to work as part of a team

Please note that individual competitors will be put into teams at the hack event in January 2023 and will develop a solution as a team

Although we welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds, we are dedicated to working with residents of Mombasa's informal settlements and young women as co equal partners throughout the prize, through an empathetic, adaptive and human centered process.

Section 2 - Prize structure and timeline

Timeline

Following the assessment of the applications, 60 finalists will be selected and divided into 15 teams, where you will develop your solutions

You will take part in a series of hack events between January and May 2023, where you will develop and test your ideas in teams You will be supported by trained mentors and coaches, whilst also receiving funding to develop your ideas.

At the end of the process, three winning teams will be selected and awarded some incredible cash prizes.

Final awards

Mombasa Plastics Prize Delivery of a final event showcasing the solutions developed.

Submission of entries. Submissions will be assessed by a group of assessors and a team of expert judges.

A hack event, where you will be put into teams, followed by training and coaching to help you develop your ideas.

A hack event, followed by training and coaching to help develop and validate the prototypes

Prize entries Prize assessment First hack event and idea development

Second hack and prototype validation

27th September 2022 8th November

November December 2022 January February 2023 March April 2023

May 2023

Mombasa Plastics Prize

Key dates

Milestone Date

Launch of Mombasa Plastics Prize

Deadline for entries

Communication of outcome

27th September 2022

8th November 2022

16th December 2022

First hack event w/c 23rd January 2023

Idea development 30th January 24th February 2023

Second hack event w/c 13th March 2023

Prototype validation 20th March 28th April 2023

Final event and announcement of winners w/c 15th May 2023

Prizes and support

The Mombasa Plastics Prize is a fantastic opportunity to learn valuable new skills, at no cost to you, and be in with a chance of winning some incredible prizes, worth over 7 million Kshs!

As a finalist, you will:

● Have the opportunity to receive world class professional training and mentoring in entrepreneurship and business skills, at no cost to you.

● Receive seed funding worth approx. 150,000 Kshs (approx. $1,200 USD) per team, to help you develop your idea

● Be reimbursed for all relevant expenses and receive a stipend, to make sure you are not out of pocket.

The winning teams will receive cash prizes, to help make their ideas a reality:

Section 3 - Judging process

All entries for the Mombasa Plastics Prize will be assessed against a set judging criteria.

Judging criteria: Initial entry

We are looking for aspiring entrepreneurs with a strong interest in tackling plastic waste mismanagement and high potential We are not looking for fully developed ideas during the initial entry stage.

The following criteria will help us select 60 finalists, who will take part in the Mombasa Plastics Prize.

1 Interest in plastic waste: Does the competitor show an interest in tackling plastic waste mismanagement in the informal settlements of Mombasa?

2 Creativity and innovation: Does the competitor demonstrate creativity and innovativeness?

3 Problem solving: Does the competitor demonstrate problem solving?

4. Teamwork: Does the competitor demonstrate teamwork?

5. Commitment to the program: Does the competitor demonstrate a commitment to the program?

Judging criteria: Finalist phase and winners

For the 60 competitors who are invited to progress their ideas from January 2023, we will use the following results statement and criteria to select the three winning teams in May 2023

Create a product, service, business or behavior change campaign that will help communities living in informal settlements in Mombasa to better prevent, reduce or manage plastic waste

1. Capability: Did the team demonstrate the skills and approach necessary to develop effective and impactful solutions that have a potential to be implemented in the market?

2. Innovation: Has the team developed a new or adaptive solution to the problem of marine plastic waste pollution in the informal settlements of Mombasa?

3 Impact on plastic waste: Does the proposed solution demonstrate the potential to have an impact on marine plastic waste pollution?

4 Social impact: Does the proposed solution demonstrate the potential to have other meaningful and positive social impact?

Section 4 - Creating your Google account

Step 3: Select “Express personalization”

Step 4: Click “Confirm”

Step 5: Select the account you have just created

Step 6: You are all ready to fill out the Mombasa Plastics Prize competitor form!

58 Victoria Embankment

London EC4Y 0DS

+44 (0)20 7438 2500

mombasaplastics@challenges.org

Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales with company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091 Registered as a charity in Scotland number SCO42833 Registered office: 58 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0DS