USAID and its partners are hosting an innovator showcase to highlight recent winners of the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge who are seeking acceleration and scaling support from investors, accelerators, donors, and technical experts, as they harness the power of science and technology to combat wildlife crime.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On June 2, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will host a showcase for the 16 prize winners of the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge during which winners will demonstrate brief overviews of their contributions to combat wildlife crime.
The Challenge is a USAID-led initiative, in partnership with National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, and TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, to crowdsource global science and technological innovations to combat illegal trade in terrestrial and marine wildlife. From a pool of 300 applicants from 52 countries, these 16 prize-winning innovations range from wildlife surveillance systems to data mining tools, and address four key wildlife trafficking issues: detecting transit routes; strengthening forensic evidence; reducing consumer demand; and tackling corruption.
The 16 prize winners will present their innovations to an invited audience of leaders from the private sector, conservation NGOs, multilateral donors, and government officials who can help scale and offer expertise and insights into ways to use these innovations in the field.
WHEN: Thursday, June 2, 2016, from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Warne Ballroom, Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
RSVP: Reporters interested in attending or learning more should contact Mara Sloan atmsloan@usaid.gov.
Follow the conversation on Twitter at #wildlifetech. To learn more about the 16 Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge Winners, please visit www.wildlifecrimetech.org.
Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge Prize Winners
Binomial Solutions (India): Solar powered wildlife surveillance system
Bosque Antiguo (Mexico): Genetic analysis tool aimed at birds and frogs
For the Fishes (U.S.A.): Mobile app to address consumer demand
Jennifer Jacquet (U.S.A.): Digital data monitoring and analysis tool aimed at e-commerce
Kalev Hannes Leetaru (U.S.A.): Digital data monitoring and analysis tool aimed at global media
Mars Omega Partnership (U.K.): Wildlife crime intelligence aggregator
National Whistleblower Center (U.S.A.): Online reporting tool for whistleblowers
New England Aquarium (U.S.A.): Digital invoicing and data analysis tool
Paso Pacifico (U.S.A.): Traceable fake sea turtle eggs to track poaching routes
Planet Indonesia (U.S.A.): Mobile app for data collection
University of Leicester (U.K.): Portable and fast DNA analysis tool
University of Pretoria (South Africa): Genetic analysis tool aimed at rhinos
University of Technology Sydney (Australia): Electronic "nose" to identify trafficked animals
University of Washington (U.S.A.): Genetic analysis tool aimed at pangolins
YIARI (Indonesia): Genetic analysis tool aimed at slow lorises
Zoological Society of London (U.K.): Satellite-based wildlife surveillance system
Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge
USAID awarded $10,000 to each prize winner and is providing technical expertise and networking support to help the winners advance their solutions to help stamp out illegal trade in wildlife. The participants are attending a two-day long "acceleration bootcamp" that brings the winners together in Washington, D.C. as a part of USAID's Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge. During the bootcamp, experts in development innovation, wildlife conservation, law enforcement, and business development will help the winners gain skills in strategic partnerships, market strategy, and business models that will help ensure that their concepts and prototypes can help stop wildlife crime in the field. In the final stage of the Challenge, prize winners are eligible to compete for one of four grand prizes worth as much as $500,000.
The Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge is a key part of USAID's role in combating wildlife trafficking. In a 2013 Executive Order, President Obama directed the U.S. Government to better organize its efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. The
U.S. National Strategy [PDF] prioritizes strengthening domestic and global law enforcement, reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife, and expanding coordination and commitment. Through the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge, USAID leads U.S. Government efforts to develop innovative approaches to combat wildlife trafficking.
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