The Geneva Challenge: Advancing Development Goals International Contest

30/03/2026

🚀 The countdown is on… The 2026 Geneva Challenge is officially OPEN!

🌍 The 2026 Geneva Challenge: Advancing Development Goals Contest
🎯 Theme: Challenges to the Future of Work

From AI and automation to inequality, informality, and climate disruption - how will the future of work shape sustainable development? And how will YOU shape the future?

We’re calling on masters student teams from around the world, across all disciplines to develop bold, innovative, and actionable solutions to one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.

🏆 What’s at stake?
✈️ Finalist teams (one per continent) will be flown to Geneva for the award ceremony
💵 CHF 10’000 for the overall winning project
💵 CHF 5’000 each for two second-place teams
💵 CHF 2’500 each for two third-place teams

📅 Key deadlines:
- Registration deadline: 24 April 2026 (23:59 CET)
- Submission deadline: 11 July 2026 (23:59 CET)

🔗 Ready to take on the challenge?
The registration form is waiting for you: https://forms.gle/gZ1ia7bD1J3bLnCAA

This is your chance to collaborate across borders, turn ideas into impact, and present your work on an international stage in Geneva.
https://www.graduateinstitute.ch/geneva-challenge/geneva-challenge-2026

Tag your teammates. Start brainstorming. Be part of the change. 💡🌎

Geneva Graduate Institute

25/03/2024

According to Save the Children, 40 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 today are “married or in a union” and, at the current rate, 150 million girls are projected to be married over the next ten years. Have a look at Save the Children’s informational page about child marriage to learn more about the impact of forced marriage on minors: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/child-marriage-a-violation-of-child-rights .

Child marriage represents the devastating end of childhood for 40 million girls worldwide. Get the facts and join Save the Children to end child marriage.

21/03/2024

Thank you to everyone who attended Tuesday's Q&A session about the Geneva Challenge 2024 with Professor Martina Viarengo, Chair of the Geneva Challenge's Academic Steering Committee, hosted in the FAB, at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Should you have any further questions about the contest, we recommend that you consult the "Rules and Regulations" document posted on our website (link in bio). Should your questions remain, feel free to send us an email via [email protected].

18/03/2024

According to UNAIDS, there were somewhere between 2.1 and 5.7 million young people infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in 2017 and according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, youth account for 40% of new HIV infections.

Get inspired to develop projects tackling this issue by UNAIDS's recent article about the Positive YUVA Network Association, a civic group that supports LGBTQIA+ and HIV-positive youth in India.

Find out more via: https://lnkd.in/eEVUAj-W.

To learn more about the Geneva Challenge 2024 about "The Challenges of Youth Empowerment," access: https://lnkd.in/gRK52uKg.

29/02/2024

We are proud to present the 11th edition of the Geneva Challenge on "The Challenges of Youth Empowerment."

Today, there are 1.8 billion youth, the largest generation of young people in history. As the late Kofi Annan, former High Patron of the Geneva Challenge, noted, “Any society that does not succeed in tapping into the energy and creativity of its youth will be left behind.” Young people, however, face many barriers to their empowerment. For instance, more than 333 million children live in extreme poverty and 1 billion lack access to safe drinking water and nutritious food. Two hundred fifty million children were out of school in 2023 and 600 million lacked basic literacy and numeracy. Unequal access to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated inequalities in access to education – and youth unemployment continues to climb. Furthermore, climate change is expected to impact today’s youth and future generations particularly.

We hope that graduate students from around the world will embrace the opportunity to devise innovative solutions for these many challenges, taking an interdisciplinary approach to tackle the pressing issues of youth empowerment.

Our registration deadline is April 22, 23:59 CET and our submission deadline is July 14, 23:59 CET.

Have a look at our website to read our call for proposals and rules and regulations - and to learn more about the Geneva Challenge: https://lnkd.in/gRK52uKg.

Register via: https://bit.ly/49z4sxc.

11/12/2023

Concluding The Geneva Challenge 2023, we extend sincere gratitude to all who played a pivotal role in contributing to and supporting the success of its 10th edition. With optimism, we look forward to the world making purposeful strides in alleviating the challenges of loneliness. 🌎👥

Moving forward, the Geneva Challenge 2024 will be focusing on the Challenges of Youth Empowerment. Stay tuned for more information!💡

Here's to nurturing more unique ideas and fostering an inclusive platform. ✨

Geneva Graduate Institute

20/11/2023

We are beyond excited to introduce the finalists of the Geneva Challenge 2023! 🌍

Meet Team North America and join us on their journey as they tackle the Challenges of Loneliness with their innovative project. 🌟

📆 Award Ceremony: Tuesday, 21st November | 18:30 to 20:00 CET | Maison de la Paix, Geneva
🔗Register here: https://lnkd.in/eB6VQgsn


Geneva Graduate Institute

17/11/2023

We are beyond excited to introduce the finalists of the Geneva Challenge 2023! 🌍

Meet Team Latin America and join us on their journey as they tackle the Challenges of Loneliness with their innovative project. 🌟

📆 Award Ceremony: Tuesday, 21st November | 18:30 to 20:00 CET | Maison de la Paix, Geneva
🔗Register here: https://lnkd.in/eB6VQgsn

Geneva Graduate Institute

16/11/2023

We are beyond excited to introduce the finalists of The Geneva Challenge 2023! 🌍

Meet Team Asia and join us on their journey as they tackle the Challenges of Loneliness with their innovative project. 🌟

📆 Award Ceremony: Tuesday, 21st November | 18:30 to 20:00 CET | Maison de la Paix, Geneva

🔗Register here: https://lnkd.in/eB6VQgsn

14/11/2023

We are beyond excited to introduce the finalists of The Geneva Challenge 2023! 🌍

Meet Team Europe and join us on their journey as they tackle the Challenges of Loneliness with their innovative project. 🌟

📆 Award Ceremony: Tuesday, 21st November | 18:30 to 20:00 CET | Maison de la Paix, Geneva
🔗Register here: https://lnkd.in/eB6VQgsn

Geneva Graduate Institute

13/11/2023

We are beyond excited to introduce the finalists of The Geneva Challenge 2023! 🌍

Meet Team Africa and join us on their journey as they tackle the Challenges of Loneliness with their innovative project. 🌟

📆 Award Ceremony: Tuesday, 21st November | 18:30 to 20:00 CET | Maison de la Paix, Geneva
🔗Register here: https://lnkd.in/eB6VQgsn



Geneva Graduate Institute