Applications for the Power of Local Challenge are now open: close Date on February 26, 2025 Apply Now

Applications for the Power of Local Challenge are now open: close Date on February 26, 2025 Apply Now

Applications for the Power of Local Challenge are now open! We are looking for small business ecosystem builders – organizations that provide small businesses with diverse and equitable opportunities like resources, tools, networking, and more. If this sounds like you, then you're in the right place!

Apply by our Early Entry deadline on January 29th for access to exclusive feedback sessions with the challenge team.

All over the world, small businesses are the building blocks of local communities – they offer entrepreneurial and leadership opportunities to community members, infuse the local economy, and serve the needs of their clients in a way only local businesses can. 

With their deep connection to the people they serve, small businesses are perfectly positioned to address and respond to community needs (or challenges). 

To support the incredible work that small businesses are doing in communities all over the world, we’re launching the Challenge "Power of Local: Supporting Ecosystems for Small Businesses to Thrive." Through it, we’re looking for small business ecosystem builders: organizations, programs, or initiatives that provide small businesses with diverse and equitable opportunities like resources, tools, networking, etc. Learn more and apply for The Power of Local Challenge below!

Country of Impact:

Your initiative must be primarily impacting at least one of the following countries: Botswana, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Language:

Your application should be fully written and submitted in English (Applicants, especially finalists, will be expected to engage in activities that require English proficiency).

Exclusions:

Employees and their children and grandchildren of the program partner, Ashoka, or its affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies are NOT eligible to apply.

Additional Criteria:

1. If your solution has not been implemented at scale; you must have a clear business plan and a minimum-viable solution (prototype, pilot, or another proof of concept).  
2. You may only submit 1 application per organization. 
3. You must be 18 or above by the application deadline, on February 26th, 2025.

To submit an application to this challenge:

Note: You will need to log in or create an account to submit an application

Click + Add Your Application. https://home.solutions.changemakers.com/challenge

You will be prompted to log in or to create an account. If you don’t have an account, follow the instructions to create one.

After the successful creation of your account, click + Add Your Application button again. A pop-up with the Terms & Conditions will appear. After reading the Terms & Conditions, choose “Accept.

After you’ve accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions, click on the blue “Add Your Project” button. This will open your Challenge application.

For More information: https://www.changemakers.com/en/challenges/poweroflocal#timeline

Please note that all eligible participants will be invited to take part in peer reviews: once the application phase closes, you will each be asked to review 10 applications each. Doing so will give you access to exclusive feedback roundtables with the community.

Join Our Whatsapp Channel

Join Our Telegram Channel