Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award aims to support social entrepreneurs working on a hybrid delivery model to improve low-income people’s access to quality primary healthcare in low- and middle-income countries.
Given mounting threats to societal resilience and obstacles to significant progress toward universal health coverage by 2030 – a key health-related SDG – have decided a stronger form of partnership is needed to spur, guide and support initiatives that improve access to and quality of primary care for low-income households in LMICs.
The Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award has recognised entrepreneurial initiatives that take innovative approaches to build resilient societies in line
with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Applications is open to social entrepreneurs who aim to improve low-income people’s access to quality primary healthcare in LMICs by offering a hybrid delivery model that combines a physical point of care and supportive digital tools
Type: Fellowship
Application Deadline: January 23, 2024
Value & Duration of Award: $700,000
- Total grant of USD 700000 for the three finalists. This amount is divided among
the winning initiative (which may receive up to USD 350000) and the two
runners-up and is paid in instalments over two years. - The finalist that wins the People’s Choice Award, determined by public online
vote, will be invited to connect with potential investors at an event hosted by
Sankalp Forum, one of the world’s largest platforms for impact enterprises. - Tailored non-financial support for all three finalists, for instance:
- Technical advice from Swiss Re employees and from staff of DCCCparticipating organisations (such as AXA, PharmAccess and Philips)
- Training, advisory, data-gathering and/or analysis to improve business
operations and strategy from LeFil Consulting representatives and others
- Potential eligibility for follow-up funding from the UBS Optimus Foundation
- Access to a network of like-minded peers with whom to share knowledge or
experiences and from whom to learn on topics relevant to the initiative
Selection Process:
- In the first round, 12 applicants will be selected, and their founder(s) will be invited for a two-hour interview with LeFil Consulting sometime between midFebruary and mid-April 2024.
- In the second round, six applicants will be selected and asked to host a two-day on-site due diligence visit, led by LeFil Consulting, in May or June 2024. By the end of May 2024, all six ventures will also need to prepare a brief video (or submit an existing one) about their venture, approach and achievements.
- The three Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award finalists will be selected in the third round. At least one founder from each finalist venture will receive coaching from mid-July through August 2024 to support development and delivery of a pitch to the award jury.
- Finalists will be invited to Zurich (Switzerland) from 2 to 6 September 2024. The pitches and official award ceremony will take place on 3 and 4 September 2024 at the Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue.
- After the award ceremony, all three finalists will sign a grant contract with the Swiss Re Foundation that defines key areas of impact measurement, expected deliverables and a two-year disbursement plan.
Eligible Countries: International Students
Eligibility: To be considered for the Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs Award, social enterprises are encouraged to meet the following criteria to apply:
- Mission and purpose: Applicants must demonstrate high levels of social impact and ideally be able to measure it in a reliable manner (eg improved health indicators, reduced out-ofpocket expenses)
- Target group: Low-income populations must constitute at least 30% of applicants’ customer
base. Applicants should have a deep understanding of the specific circumstances of the people – women as well as men – they serve. Priority will be given to enterprises that are gender-inclusive, that is, strive to reduce gender inequalities. - Geography: Applicants must operate in countries that are defined as low-income or lowermiddle-income by the World Bank.
- Operating model: Applicants must operate on a market basis. While the venture may depend
on grant funding, it must demonstrate an ability to grow and scale through earned revenue. - Size: Applicants must have been formally established by 2021, serve at least 20,000 people and have the potential to reach at least 100000 people in the next two years.
- Organisation: Applicants must have a solid management team in which responsibilities are well defined and distributed. It should also have a diverse, well-structured workforce.
Preference will be given to ventures with at least one female founder, or at least 30% women in the management team. - Legal compliance: Applicants must comply with the legal framework of the country or countries in which they operate and be allowed to receive grant funding from a Swiss nongovernmental organisation such as the Swiss Re Foundation.
How To Apply: Interested candidates should click on “Apply For This Scholarship” below
