The City of Johannesburg is taking bold steps towards creating a more sustainable and inclusive future for its residents with the launch of the Community Innovation Challenge and Awards 2024, the city is fostering creativity, collaboration, and practical solutions that address local challenges. This initiative invites residents, entrepreneurs, and organizations to come forward with innovative ideas that can make a real difference in areas such as sustainability, technology, education, and social development. The city will be recognizing and rewarding these contributions, Johannesburg is not only improving the lives of its citizens but also setting the stage for long-term, impactful change. This initiative underscores the city's commitment to building a modern, resilient, and thriving community for the future.
The launch of the Community Innovation Challenge and Awards 2024 will take place on 27 November 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Region G’s Town Hall, Lenasia Civic Centre. This event will mark the beginning of an exciting journey toward fostering innovation and collaboration in Johannesburg,
The Community Innovation Challenge and Awards 2024, spearheaded by Johannesburg's Smart City office, is a forward-thinking initiative designed to drive progress by encouraging fresh, innovative solutions from both residents and stakeholders. The focus is on modernizing service delivery and tackling critical challenges faced by communities.
The Executive Mayor Member of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr. Dada Morero said that he encourages all residents, especially the youth, to participate.
“The challenge is a vital part of the City’s broader efforts to co-produce solutions and modernise operations. We want to merge creativity with collaboration to unlock new opportunities. Central to our approach is the City’s comprehensive Innovation Framework, a strategic roadmap that fosters a culture of innovation where residents and stakeholders can generate real-world solutions,” Mayor Morero explains.
He added that he Community Innovation Challenge invites individuals, teams, and local organisations across Johannesburg’s wards and regions to submit their ideas.
Cllr Morero ended by saying that the focus is on addressing everyday issues that impact residents, whether through service improvements, technological innovations, or empowering communities.
“Winning ideas won’t just receive recognition but will also be piloted to improve specific areas of City services,” Mayor Morero adds.
Nelson Sekgota, Project Manager at Wits University’s Tshimologong Precinct, underscores the key criteria for submissions. He emphasises that innovations must solve a specific problem, improve residents’ experiences, and demonstrate scalability and usability. Importantly, the solutions should be low-cost, easy to implement, and designed to enhance the City’s service delivery.
“This is more than just an awards event—it’s a call for bold, practical ideas that reimagine urban management,” Sekgota says.
“Our collaboration with Wits Tshimologong ensures that we’re tapping into cutting-edge academic expertise while leveraging community insights to build a more agile, responsive city.”
Monique Griffith, Head of Innovation Partnerships at the Smart City office, highlights the transformative potential of the initiative. “By redefining innovation to focus on unique, practical, and valuable contributions, the City is setting the stage for transformative change. As we invite residents and stakeholders to participate, Johannesburg is positioning itself as a leader in modern urban management where creativity and collaboration drive progress,” she says.
Key criteria for submissions include:
1. Impact: The idea must create visible improvements in the daily lives of residents.
Reach: Solutions should address issues affecting a large group of people or a broader area.
2. Service Enhancement: The innovation must demonstrate the potential to improve public services.
3. Proactive Community: Solutions should empower communities to tackle their challenges independently.
4. Innovation: Ideas must offer new, novel ways to resolve ongoing problems.
5. Usability: The solution should be feasible and have clear benefits for the community.
Implementation Phases: Submissions should outline the steps required to bring the idea to life.
6. Itemized Costing: Innovations must be low-cost, with a budget under R300,000 for the pilot phase.
7. Intellectual Property: The submission must be the intellectual property of the submitting party, open-source, or properly licensed.
Submissions: Must be completed electronically using the official form and signed by the innovator or lead representative.
To participate in Community Innovation Challenge visit the City of Johannesburg’s website, www.joburg.org.za, to register
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