What is the Development Marketplace (DM) ? The Development Marketplace (DM) is a competitive grant program administered by the World Bank and supported by partners that identifies and funds innovative, early-stage projects with high potential for development impact. The DM is a unique opportunity to turn your idea into reality: if selected your project could receive up to US$40,000 in grant funding for implementation over 18 months. The competition expects to award up to 25 winning projects.

Is our idea eligible for a grant ? The South Asia Regional Development Marketplace on Nutrition is inviting innovative, small-scale grassroots development proposals for a competitive grant program under the theme “Family and Community Approaches to Improving Infant and Young Child Nutrition”. Submissions will undergo a thorough assessment by development experts from the World Bank and the greater development community, from which about 70 shortlisted candidates will be invited to present their proposals during a DM event to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from August 4-6, 2009. Winners from this event will receive award grants of up to US$40,000 to implement their project during an18 month period.

The goal of the South Asia Regional DM on Nutrition is to identify and fund innovative ideas that deliver improved nutrition to infants and young children during their first two years of life and to pregnant women. This DM will also create a platform for engaging civil society and grassroots organizations and in this way, organizations who can contribute to improving nutrition among the poor in South Asia can share their experiences with the broader development community.

Who can apply ? The South Asia Regional DM is open to organizations from the following countries and the projects must be implemented in one or more of them: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Nongovernmental organizations, civil society organizations, foundations or development agencies that are based in the country of implementation may apply without additional partners. All other groups must apply in partnership with at least one organization. Check the application guidelines for more information at www.worldbank.org/nutritiondm2009

How do we apply ? Proposal must be in English and submitted through the online application form available at www.worldbank.org/nutritiondm2009 on or before 24:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST) on March 31, 2009.

Contact us For further information on the competition, application guidelines and selection criteria visit our website or contact the team at nutritionmarketplace@worldbank.org

Dates to remember Submission period begins : February 11, 2009 Submission period ends : March 31, 2009 Development Marketplace event held in Dhaka, Bangladesh : August 4 - 6, 2009

Direct links Links to the pdf file of the above communication World Bank Flyer on the above communication This file is heavy and will take time to download