Call for Proposals: Plastic Innovation Programme (Vietnam)

Through the call for proposals, UNDP is inviting applications that offer novel solutions to plastic pollution across a wide range of areas.

Priority Areas

• Below is a non- exhaustive list of areas of innovations:
  • Material innovation: Material innovations may include locally sourced, minimally processed plant-based products, such as edible spoons and bamboo straws, as well as various bio-based, biodegradable and compostable materials. To prevent regrettable substitutions, comprehensive lifecycle assessments should be conducted. The regeneration rate of such materials should be assessed to determine their ability to meet large-scale market demand.
  • Design innovation: This category of innovation alters the fundamental design of a product or service towards reducing or eliminating the use of plastics. For example, transitioning from selling CDs and DVDs to offering music or video streaming services significantly lowers the plastic footprint. However, it is important to evaluate the environmental impact of new designs, as they could have adverse impacts such as increased greenhouse gas emissions (when considered across their lifecycle).
  • Business model innovation: Changing how products are delivered or shifting from product sales to service- based models can greatly decrease plastic pollution. By adopting systems for reusable or refillable products, they can eliminate the need for single-use plastic packaging.
  • Technological innovation: This category involves the use of technology to support pollution monitoring, data generation and improved plastic waste management. This may include technologies that support recycling systems and processes. This may advance safe and sound recycling of waste, enhance material circulation and extend product lifespans.
  • Innovation in governance systems: This involves the development and implementation of novel regulatory, economic, voluntary and informational instruments that regulate/discourage behaviors that lead to pollution and/or promote/encourage pro-environmental behaviors. These may include novel corporate governance tools that advance green procurement and promote practices that reduce plastic pollution, resource efficiency, durability, repairability, and recyclability.
  • Innovative financing instruments: This involves developing financial tools to channel financial flows into sustainable activities and mobilize funds to tackle plastic pollution. Some of these instruments and products include plastic Credits, Plastic Bond, Blue and Green Bonds, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and Blended Finance. Some of these instruments require stakeholders to prepare national sustainable finance strategies and action plans, develop taxonomies of relevant activities, and guidelines on various products.

Scope of Work

• Development and implementation of innovative solutions to plastic pollution:
  • Identify, pilot and/or experiment with innovative solutions to plastic pollution.
• Stakeholder engagement and awareness raising:
  • Participate in events to share the results and lessons learned with stakeholders.
  • Maintain ongoing communication with UNDP and relevant stakeholders to sustain momentum and encourage continued engagement in waste management and environmental stewardship beyond the project scope.
• Knowledge Management, Learning and Networking:
  • Produce technical reports, and summary documents on key activities and results; knowledge products must highlight process-based as well as outcome-based lessons.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting:
  • The entity will undertake participatory monitoring and evaluation of project activities, based on agreed schedules in the memorandum of agreement. The entity will have an in-built real-time monitoring process as best designed by them and be ready to provide information as requested on an ad hoc basis.
  • The entity will maintain regular consultation and contact with UNDP regarding the implementation of the project, provide acceptable project level progress (financial and narrative) reports and prepare a final evaluation report for the period of the agreement.

Funding Information

• UNDP will provide grants of up to USD 30,000 per project for a maximum of six (6) solutions as winners, and additional up to USD 10,000 per project for a maximum of six (6) solutions as runners-up (with priority given to youth and women applicants) across the priority areas described.
• Project duration: The selected projects on the Shortlist will participate in capacity-building training to refine their ideas over a period of 2 months for the final pitching session. If they are selected for the Final List at the Pitching Competition Event, they will then complete the projects over the next 9 months. The project completion date will be no later than June 30, 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

• They are seeking applications who should meet the following eligibility:
  • The team comes from NGOs, CBOs, governmental and non-governmental academic or educational/research institutions (both national or international), small-to-medium sized businesses, who have demonstrated exceptional innovation and impact in the focal areas outlined and have legally registered as a firm/organization/agency (evidence is required).
  • The team that includes at least 01 (one) female member (preferably a women-led organization); or youth applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
  • The team leaders who could communicate and present solutions in English are preferred.

For more information, visit UNDP.