Challenging corruption with global, clever and nimble responses
Citizens of resource-rich countries have a right to benefit from the wealth generated by extraction of their natural resources. But as the world looks to decarbonize, quickly, how do we ensure short cuts to access cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, which more than half of the world’s reserves exist in countries with high levels of corruption, don’t short-change the countries and communities providing these resources?
Such a complex challenge requires new and innovative solutions. That’s why the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), along with partners Amazon, BHP Foundation and the Chandler Foundation, have put out the call for innovations through a Grand Challenge.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power launched the Powering a Just Energy Transition Green Minerals Challenge (JET Minerals Challenge) recently at COP27.
“The discovery of profitable resources can fuel conflict and corruption, with most of the gains going to corporations or oligarchs, not to everyday people,” said Samantha Power as she launched the challenge.
“We have to protect the supply chains of the future and we need ideas on the best way to do it”.
The challenge incentivizes the development, application, and scaling of innovations that root out corruption in green mineral supply chains to fulfill the promise of an inclusive, sustainable, and just clean energy future.
Innovators can win up to $400,000, along with targeted acceleration support.
Interested applicants are encouraged toreview this information and submit applicationsby 11:59am (EST) on 9 January 2023.
As a sponsor of the challenge, the BHP Foundation hopes the challenge will inspire innovation and provide support to accelerate action.
BHP Foundation Natural Resource Governance Program Director, Fiona Avery, said, “Better governance of the world’s natural resources will help turn the tide on poverty and improve the quality of life of hundreds of millions of people around the world.”
“Transformative change can only be achieved by building genuine, trust-based partnerships across communities, civil society, industry, governments and international institutions who collectively work towards change, and finding new solutions.”
Read more on our Natural Resource Governance program.