AI for Climate Resilience in Emerging Markets
Call for Proposals
Call for proposals: AI for Climate Resilience
Mercy Corps Ventures is launching a call for proposals
focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Climate Resilience. This initiative
seeks startups or organizations deploying innovative AI-based solutions for
climate resilience in emerging markets. This is the second call for proposals
from our Climate Venture Lab, following the Climate Tech Facility launched in
November 2023, which received 412 proposals from over 50 countries. Through
these initiatives, we are committing up to $1,000,000 to test first-of-a-kind
solutions increasing the resilience of climate vulnerable people in Africa,
Asia and Latin America, aiming to build the knowledge base on how innovative
technology can increase climate resilience for the most vulnerable.
In the AI for Climate Resilience call, we seek partners to
test these potential uses of climate analytics and AI to enhance the resilience
and sustainability of agriculture and food production, increase access to
finance, and address climate change in emerging markets. We are looking for
solutions that benefit low-income and underserved populations.
We will select applications that intersect AI with the
following themes, in line with our Resilient Futures Thesis:
- Adaptive
Agriculture: How can we feed the world without harming the environment?
Can AI improve soil diagnostics, help scale regenerative agriculture, or
make supply chains more efficient and less wasteful? We seek AI-based solutions
that help smallholder farmers in emerging countries improve yields,
protect the environment, transition to sustainable practices, and reduce
waste, among others.
- Inclusive
Fintech. How can we facilitate financing for climate resilience? What role
can AI play in increasing access to finance for smallholder farmers? We
seek innovative financial solutions in the food and agriculture space that
can unlock finance for climate resilience.
- Climate
smart technologies: How can AI help address other challenges related
to strengthening climate resilience? For example, how can we protect
forests, land, oceans and glaciers? How might AI enhance the use of
renewable energy for productive use? We welcome ideas that leverage AI to
strengthen the climate resilience of smallholder farmers, indigenous
communities, and low-income communities.
In addition with thesis alignment as described above, Mercy
Corps Ventures (MCV) will select pilots based on the following criteria:
- Impact. Who
is the pilot serving and what impact will be achieved? We expect proposals
to include actionable plans to demonstrate impact on MCV’s target
populations, including smallholder farmers, refugees and migrants,
underserved women, marginalized communities, and those living in
climate-vulnerable contexts.
- Innovation.
How transformative is the solution? How likely is this product / service
to scale / replicate broadly? Is it first-of-a-kind?
- Traction
& team. How likely is this team to execute as designed? Does the
team have the capacity to successfully deliver the pilot? This can be
evidenced through current track record, team credentials, technological
maturity of the product / service, etc.
- Geographic
scope. Will the pilot be implemented in one or more MCV’s target regions:
Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Latin America?
- Scalability.
For for-profit solutions, how do the economics work? For for-profit and
nonprofit solutions, who will carry the work forward if the pilot
succeeds?
The selected pilot partners will receive equity-free grants
of up to $100,000 each. Alongside capital, MCV will also provide mentorship,
impact measurement advisory, access to partnership opportunities, knowledge
exchange, and brand exposure.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Deadline
for submission Jul 21, 2024. To apply, fill in this form. https://airtable.com/appKRb8OBQAEdUU5w/pagleWr196NdK8kqU/form
We will hold an info session about the AI for Climate
Resilience on July 10, 2024 at 8:00 am GMT -6. Register here https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b418b743-8e64-4a94-8240-389ec86fa130@08de8628-593e-43f5-9ceb-f3e5dd7ae2cb
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