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Global MDP Challenge 2025

The Global MDP Cross-Institutional ‘Global Challenge’ is an innovative competition designed to leverage the expertise, creativity, and passion of Master of Development Practice (MDP) students across the globe. Building on the success of the inaugural 2024 Global MDP Challenge, this Challenge aims to produce actionable solutions to critical global development challenges, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Led by the Student Advisory and Alumni Council (SAAC) of the Global MDP Association, hosted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and SDG Academy, with the support of Afflican Co. Under the supervision of a distinguished Panel of Overseers from the Association's partner universities, this fully virtual challenge offers participants an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate across institutions with their fellow MDP peers, apply their academic knowledge in alignment with their programs, and engage with global development practitioners in designing a field-ready solution to a complex global issue.

The Challenge

Participants will work in teams to design and implement innovative solutions to address one of five key thematic areas that reflect urgent global challenges, leveraging the MDP curriculum in their programs, and simultaneously uniting the regions of the Global MDP. The challenge encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative thinking, and practical solutions, with a focus on real-world impact. These themes have been designed to reflect the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Youth2030 Strategy, and the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations contained within the Pact for the Future adopted at the 2024 United Nations Summit of the Future. You can read our 2024 Impact Report here.

What's in Store for Participants?

Participants compete to win up to $2,000 in prize funding to support the implementation of their project in the field, with the generous support of the Leopold Bachmann Foundation. In addition, all participants receive an official e-Certificate from the Global MDP Association and the UN SDSN with opportunities to showcase their solutions to a global audience and have their work published by the Global MDP and the UN SDSN. You can see how our previous participants were highlighted here.

Participants can also enhance their skills in development planning, project management, and innovation while receiving feedback and guidance from industry professionals and collaborate with students across 24 countries, experience cross-cultural learning, and be featured on Global MDP and SDSN social media.

Eligibility and Teams

Must be a current MDP student, or recent alumni, in any of the 35 MDP Partner Universities globally. Your student status will be verified with your University. Participants can be from any year of study, or recent alumni (must have graduated no earlier than 2015).

Teams must consist of 3-5 members, ideally from different institutions to encourage cross-institutional collaboration.

By submitting this form and indicating your interests, you will be carefully matched with teammates to ensure the best fit for global distribution and personality alignment.

Important Dates

Registration Deadline: October 10, 2025 at 11:59PM EDT

Team Matching & Announcements: Oct 12, 2025

Challenge Start Date: October 13, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions, Contact Information, and More About the Challenge:

Please check out our Challenge Guidelines, or reach out to your Regional Leader, with contact details found in the linked Document.