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About GDAC

Global Development Awards Competition 2023 | Our Approach | Recent GDAC Editions | Impact of the Competition | 20 years of GDAC | GDAC Platform

The Global Development Awards Competition is an innovative award scheme launched by GDN with the generous support from the Ministry of Finance, Government of Japan. 

Since its inception in 2000, GDN has awarded roughly US$ 4 million in research and project grants to finalists and winners. Nearly 8,800 researchers and development practitioners from low and middle income countries and transition countries have participated in the competition and more than 200 awards have been conferred till date.

The awards recognize excellence in policy-oriented research, supports research capacity development of researchers in low and middle income countries and funds innovative social development projects benefiting marginalized groups in the developing world. The annual competition has a new, relevant theme every year. GDN provides grants through its awards competition under two main categories: 

  • The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development: The Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD) is a competitive research grant program that identifies and funds outstanding research proposals that have a high potential for excellence in research and clear policy implications for addressing development issues. Applicants receive expert feedback from junior and later senior researchers. Additionally, throughout the implementation of their projects, the research teams are supported by a Scientific and Technical Advisor, who is selected based on the theme of their research.
  • The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project: The Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP) is a competitive grant program that supports Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in low or lower income countries to recognize the innovative approach of their projects. The first prize winner is also eligible to compete under the Japan Social Development Fund for an additional grant of up to US$ 200,000 to pilot their innovative work at a larger scale.  

Finalists in both categories receive training in communicating research and development, prior to their presentations at the conference.  

Film featuring the finalists from the Global Development Awards Competition at the 17th GDN Annual Global Development Conference in Lima, Peru in March, 2016.


For queries, please write to awards@gdn.int.

If you have a grievance regarding the implementation of this project or towards its future impacts, send an email to awards@gdn.int, with a copy to fobino@gdn.int or check www.gdn.int/awards/grievance for further instructions.