Global Development Awards Competition 2025 | Funding & Recognition for LMIC Innovators

The Global Development Network (GDN) has kicked off the Global Development Awards Competition (GDAC) 2025. This is a great chance for researchers and organizations from low- and middle-income countries to showcase their valuable work. And the best part? Researchers from Pakistan can join in too.

This year’s theme is Digital Transformation for Universal Health Coverage, which shows how important digital tech has become in making healthcare more accessible, especially in areas that need it the most. The competition encourages fresh ideas on how innovation can help provide everyone with affordable healthcare.

Check: Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025

Program Details

What Is the GDAC?

The GDAC is GDN's main program and has been helping researchers and non-profit groups since 2000. Thanks to support from the Ministry of Finance in Japan, the competition provides grants and global recognition for winners in two main categories:

Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development (ORD)

This award is for early-career researchers from low- and middle-income countries, like Pakistan, who are looking into how digital tech can help make universal health coverage more accessible.

Eligibility

• You need to be a national or permanent resident of a low- or middle-income country, like Pakistan.
• You should be under 45 years old as of January 1, 2025.
• Your research proposal must be original, relevant to policy, and tied to the theme for 2025.

Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project (MIDP)

This category helps non-profit groups and organizations that are working on development projects using digital tools to make healthcare more accessible.

Eligibility

• You need to be a legally registered non-profit based in a low- or middle-income country.
• The project should be active and focused on improving healthcare access through digital channels.

Application Deadline

Make sure to get your application in by June 18, 2025. Don't miss out on this fantastic chance! Apply Now. For latest updates visit News and Scholarships.