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The Rules

We invite proposals that deliver truly innovative ideas, and will give preference to those that show a compelling plan for how to distribute and scale the ideas in order to create and sustain public engagement around investments in global development.

We accept proposals in four areas:

  • Mobile
    We seek proposals for projects that will activate these emerging mobile networks and engage users, through basic and smart phone technologies, in ways that build support in wealthy economies for aid efforts in places they are needed most. We seek proposals for projects that not only use mobile technology to gather and tell stories, but also compel people to collaborate and take action.

  • Data
    The emergence of Big Data and web services provide new opportunities to understand and talk about aid. We seek proposals for projects that produce new analysis of and insights to existing data about the impact of aid, and that use it to tell compelling, new stories about how those investments enable progress in the developing world. We seek proposals that include strategies for how to interpret, visualize, organize and communicate data to audiences.

  • Young audiences
    It is critical to engage the next generation of global citizens in strategies to address development challenges. We seek proposals for projects that will increase youth awareness of global development challenges and that can prepare young people to be informed advocates and leaders in creating solutions for these problems. Proposals must include specific information about how the program will address specific global development issues, which youth audiences the project will reach, how it will activate those audiences, and why.

  • The Progress of Aid
    When spent wisely, aid has helped countries lift themselves out of poverty and end their reliance on assistance from donor nations. We seek proposals for projects that show the virtuous cycle of development aid, at both micro- and macro-levels: how the beneficiaries of aid are using it to become self-sufficient (for example: small farmers who, by increasing their productivity, are able to send their children to school), and how countries that were previously supported through aid investments, are now providers of aid for other nations (foreign aid graduates).

We do not consider funding for:

  • Projects not aligned with the foundation’s goals in health and development;
  • Projects centered entirely around donations made by individuals to support development efforts
  • Single pieces of content that are not supported by a robust engagement strategy;
  • Projects focused on crisis response or emergency relief
  • Basic research without a clear objective to solve a communications problem;
  • Solely behavioral change/educational initiatives (e.g., training programs, scholarships, education programs);
  • Solely infrastructure or capacity-building initiatives;
  • Projects earmarking foundation funds for lobbying activity (e.g., attempts to influence legislation or legislative action) or efforts to influence political campaigns for public office.
  • Projects that focus on a specific location or community, without a plan to expand the program more broadly


Evalution

Proposals will be reviewed against the following criteria:

  • Response to the topic: Does the proposal address the challenges described in the topic? Please note the types of projects that will not be funded, above;
  • Innovative approach: Does the idea offer an unconventional or creative approach to the problem outlined in the topic? Does it demonstrate application of a new or pioneering approach? Does the proposal describe how the project varies from current approaches, offers new premises or hypotheses to test?
  • Expectations for success: Does the proposal include a clear and realistic rational for success?

How The Chimera Works:

  • Until 7 November 2012, any person, team, agency or company can submit a communications idea based on the challenge set by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Aid works. Tell the world. The brief is completely open. Just write your idea down on a maximum of two pages. ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED.
  • In the summer of 2013, up to ten teams will be awarded $100,000 to further develop their idea. Then Cannes Lions will fly these finalists to attend a special ‘university’ with the Cannes Chimera.
  • The Chimera will work with the finalists for two days on further developing their ideas. It's a great opportunity to work with the brightest talent in the industry.
  • The finalists will have one opportunity to apply for a follow-on grant of up to one million dollars to help make the idea a reality.