Applications are now open for the World Resources Institute 2025/26 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities (cash prize of $250,0000)

Application Deadline: 28 May 2025

Applications are now open for the World Resources Institute 2025/26 WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities (cash prize of $250,0000)

Overview

African cities are hubs of resilience & transformation but they remain underrepresented in global conversations.The WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities is calling for more African-led projects to showcase their impact on the world stage.

The WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities recognizes trailblazing projects and initiatives for their contribution to inclusive and sustainable urban transformation. It seeks to inspire urban change-makers across the globe by amplifying lessons and telling impactful stories of transformative change.

The Project

The Project is a specific activity or programmatically linked set of activities in the city that have contributed to inclusive and sustainable urban transformation. Programmatic linkages may be (a) by design, for example being part of a common, documented strategy; (b) by virtue of common financial support, common oversight, or shared implementation teams; or (c) by a documented commitment to shared goals. A Project could refer to a number of activities that fit into a range of categories, including social, technological, and/or institutional innovation, training or awareness raising activities, policy or regulatory reform, and infrastructure creation or modification.

The Prize

The Prize consists of five distinct monetary rewards and honorable designations that are awarded to five Projects selected by WRI (the “Finalists”) based on their contribution to inclusive and sustainable urban transformation in their city. One Finalist (the “Winner”) will receive the grand prize award of US$250,000. Four runners-up will each receive an award in the amount of US$25,000. WRI will pay reasonable travel expenses for up to two members of each Finalist Project to attend the award ceremony for the Prize, in the event of an in-person awards ceremony.

Evaluation Criteria

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

1. Five Finalists will be selected from all eligible Applicants based on an assessment by WRI’s evaluation team of the Projects that most fully embody the following:
   1. The big idea, or the extent to which the Project uses an innovative approach to solve an important urban problem;
   2. The life-changing impact, or the extent to which the Project has changed people’s lives, seen through changes to the physical environment, institutional structures and routines, financial/money flows, behaviors and daily life, and perceptions and mental models; and
   3. The ripple effects, or the extent to which the Project has had impact beyond its boundaries, seen through change in local or national institutions, in other neighborhoods or areas of the city, or in other cities or geographies.
2. The Jury will select one Winner from the five Finalists through deliberation and a vote. The decisions by the Jury are final and not subject to review.

Eligibility

1. All types of organizations/entities and individuals from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors are eligible to apply for the Prize. The Applicant may be a single organization or a group of organizations and individuals with at least one organization among the group. Applicants may submit one or more Projects for consideration, but each must be submitted separately and must meet the eligibility requirements.
2. Submission may be for Projects anywhere in the world that commenced after January 1, 2000 and that meet the other criteria for eligibility

Businesses, NGOs, community groups, local governments and collaborations of all types of organizations and individuals from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors may apply and:

• Be celebrated on a global stage
• Win a cash prize of $250,000; $25,000 each for four runners-up
• Gain exposure to international media and a world-class jury
• Join a global network of urban experts and changemakers

VISIT THE PAGE HERE AND APPLY

---

Join our WhatsApp group and Telegram group to receive more opportunities

Visit our social media pages on LinkedIn and Facebook

Also Check: Call for Applications: 2026 MIT-Empowering the Teachers (MIT-ETT) Program