RISE Urban Challenge

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) is launching the Resilience Innovation through Scaling Entrepreneurship (RISE) Urban Challenge to support and scale innovative solutions addressing climate resilience in urban informal settlements within ODA-eligible countries.

• The RISE Urban Challenge aims to convert idea- and concept-level innovations that address resilience needs in urban informality contexts into sustainable, scalable solutions. The initiative specifically prioritises locally led innovations that build the resilience of women and youth, focusing on enhancing resilience for those most vulnerable to climate shocks, promoting gender equity, and preserving biodiversity.
• The challenge is open to both for-profit and non-profit registered organisations, local entrepreneurs, and innovators located in low- and middle-income countries that are eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) as defined by the OECD-DAC.
• Selected winners will receive a cash prize of up to US$50,000 to develop and scale their solutions over a 12-month period from January to December 2026. Funding is contingent upon the completion of a due diligence process and a virtual Leadership Academy.
• The support package for winners includes tailored mentoring, communications support, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) support, and access to a network of regional and global experts. Mentoring involves a framework using a Value Chain Driven Viability Analysis and a Resilience and Scaling assessment to develop work and action plans.
• The challenge identifies four primary themes for eligible initiatives: climate risk action (addressing hazards like flash flooding, heat waves, and droughts), resilience retrofit (climate resilient housing in informal settlements), water security, and urban migration and displacement.
• The selection process involves a screening for eligibility followed by an assessment by two reviewers based on a 100-point scale. Criteria include innovativeness (0-15), potential for impact (0-15), equity (0-15), scalability (0-15), profitability and sustainability (0-15), team composition (0-15), and risk (0-10). Applications scoring above 60 are shortlisted, with 10-15 final winners selected.

APA

Global Resilience Partnership (n.d.). RISE Urban Challenge. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/rise-2025-guidelines.pdf

Chicago

Global Resilience Partnership. RISE Urban Challenge. n.d. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/rise-2025-guidelines.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Resilience Partnership |title=RISE Urban Challenge |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/rise-2025-guidelines.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalresiliencepartnershipndrise, author = {{Global Resilience Partnership}}, title = {{RISE Urban Challenge}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/rise-2025-guidelines.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }