Global Sustainability Challenge
The Global Sustainability Challenge is a prestigious annual competition open to university students worldwide including those from South Africa inviting bold, tangible solutions to sustainability challenges. Backed by Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, SEforALL, and a network of global partners, the challenge empowers student teams to address pressing issues under two transformative pillars: Sustainable Energy and Adaptation & Resilience.
Participants move through three high-impact phases:
- Ignite: Assemble teams, register, select a theme, conduct research, and propose innovative concepts (deadline: 3 November 2025).
- Build: Bring concepts to life with working prototypes, user testing, and live regional showcases.
- Shine: Refine solutions, present at the Global Finale, and pitch for lasting global impact.
Every team benefits from mentorship, feedback from expert judges, regional ambassadors, and a collaborative global community. Solutions are expected to produce measurable, real-world impact and be feasible to build within an academic year. Projects may draw from diverse areas, including technology, policy, data, finance, and storytelling.
The challenge features a $35,000 prize pool:
- 1st Place: $10,000
- 2nd Place: $5,000
- 3rd Place: $2,500 in each category
Winning teams also secure entry to Stanford’s exclusive EcoGlobal Program, offering entrepreneurial workshops, peer networking, mentorship, and demo events for scaling sustainability ventures globally.
All submissions are considered for awards, recognition, mentorship, and global visibility, with lasting connections fostered beyond the challenge itself. Teams can impact disaster preparedness, energy reliability, climate-smart agriculture, water security, resilient infrastructure, and other urgent sustainability priorities.
Apply and ignite your impact: student teams from all academic disciplines, backgrounds, and geographies—including South Africa are encouraged to register by 3 November 2025.
Click here for more information.