The Inter-American Development Bank is looking to provide support to pilot and scale commercial models rooted in cutting-edge technologies that contribute to the sustainable management of oceans and coastal resources (or marine ecosystems) as the basis for livelihoods, food security and economic development of the Caribbean region.

The deadline for submission is 30 November 2018 (6pm ET).

Entities from the 48 member countries of the IDBG are invited to participate in the challenge. Entities must have demonstrated expertise in developing and applying innovative and cutting-edge technologies to ensure the sustainable management of oceans as the basis for livelihoods, food security and economic development. Proponent entities located outside the target Caribbean region will only be considered if in partnership with local or regional organizations registered to carry out the project activities in the Caribbean region.

Business models are to be developed in the following 14 target countries: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, including the following Compete Caribbean non-IDB members: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Funding to IDB member countries will be provided on a matching fund basis (approximately 50%):

• Grant resources for technical assistance: US$150,000 to US$500,000
• Loans: US$500,000 to US$2,000,000

Funding for non-IDB member countries will be provided on a matching fund basis:

• Grant resources for technical assistance: US$100,000-US$150,000

The proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria and approximate weight of consideration:

• Level of innovation of the model/Use of disruptive technologies (~20%)
• Special consideration will be given to models targeting excluded groups and communities (women, indigenous, etc.) or low-income populations (~5%)
• Scalability potential (~15%)
• Financial sustainability for the next 3-5 years (~15%)
• Capacity of proponent entity and strategic partners (~15%)
• Viability of execution, and risks (~15%)

For more details please see Guidelines: http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=EZSHARE-865778355-6

Proposal documents should be uploaded online at: http://convocatorias.iadb.org/bluetechchallenge/home.

SCHEDULE

Launch: September 17, 2018.
Submit proposals: September 17 – November 30, 2018
Final submission deadline: November 30, 2018 (6pm ET)
Review by IDBG team: December 1 – December 17, 2018 to create short list
Review of short list with Advisory Panel, final selection and due diligence visits: January 7 – January 31, 2019
Expected announcement of selected proposals: February, 2019
DATES ARE APPROXIMATE AND SUBJECT TO REVISION