THE NTD INNOVATION PRIZE IS PAUSED FOR 2024

UPDATES EXPECTED IN 2025

Review Process

1. Abstracts will undergo an initial compliance review to ensure adherence to application guidelines and instructions. Abstracts exceeding the word limit will not be accepted.

2. Screened and approved abstracts will undergo a second round of review and scoring (based on the review criteria) by a panel of experts related to NTDs, innovation and mapping.

3. Video pitches will be reviewed by a panel of experts. Five finalists will be selected.

4. More information on the final pitch process will follow. The winner will be announced during the NTD NGO Network (NNN) conference closing plenary.

Review Criteria

Applicants must follow all application and submission instructions. Abstracts exceeding the word limit, or videos exceeding the time limit, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Applications will be considered according to the following criteria:

1. Problem

  • Does the applicant demonstrate understanding of, and clearly articulate, the problem they are trying to solve?

2. Solution

  • Does the applicant present a realistic solution, leveraging mapping and/or spatial analysis, to solve the problem?

3. Level of Innovation

  • Is the idea proposed considered innovative? American Leprosy Missions defines innovation as the exploration and application of new or improved solutions to stop disease and improve well-being for people affected by NTDs.

4. Impact Potential

  • What is the potential impact of the idea proposed, in terms of ability to successfully scale and reach affected populations? Is the idea cost-effective, scalable and feasible?

5. Team Capacity

  • Does the team demonstrate the necessary capacity and expertise to execute the idea effectively? Priority will be given to ideas, projects and teams who engage and promote young professionals.

review panel and confidentiality

Due to the large number of abstracts anticipated, applicants with ideas that are not selected for award will receive a notification of decline without specific feedback from reviewers. Applicants are encouraged to resubmit ideas in future years. 

The NTD Innovation Prize has put in place policies and procedures to ensure privacy, fairness, and equality. Application abstracts will not be shared externally or disseminated publicly and reviewers must sign and adhere to confidentiality agreements. Additionally, applicants will have the option to submit their pitch videos as private or unlisted (information will be provided). When a semi-finalist is invited to be a finalist, they must sign a release form so their photo, professional biography and proposal abstract summary can be shared via the ntdinnovation.org website and American Leprosy Missions social media accounts prior to the NNN conference. These materials will also be shared with the NNN conference communications team.

If awarded, a funding agreement will be established to further outline topics related to confidentiality, information sharing and intellectual property (where applicable).

To identify and avoid conflicts of interest among application reviewers, reviewers will not be permitted to review proposals from organizations with which the reviewer has self-identified conflicts of interest.