FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do you define a Ready-to-Work Bootcamp?
Ready-to-Work Bootcamps prepare students with no previous experience in high-demand IT jobs in a short period of time (generally less than one year). These models may have three main characteristics: 1) intense rapid-skills training, 2) experiential learning approach, 3) curricula based on, and continuously adapting to industry demand. Depending on the organization, Ready-to-Work coding Bootcamps have yielded job placement rates ranging from 60 to 100% (ITU, 2016).
2. Are you looking for a specific coding language?
No, we are looking for innovative solutions that teach digital skills, in a broad sense and in combination with other highly demanded skills (such as soft skills and English) in a short period of time so that students become immediately employable.
3. Who can participate?
Entities legally registered in one of the 26 borrowing member countries of the IDB in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as organizations outside of the Latin American and the Caribbean region that have an implementing partner legally registered in one of the 26 IDB borrowing member countries are invited to participle in the challenge. Entities eligible to participate include social enterprises, NGOs, non-profits, academic, educational and training institutions (public and private), and private firms offering Ready-to-Work Bootcamps.
4. How do I submit my application?
The application must be completed and submitted online, please visit the platform YOUNOODLE for more information.
5. Can I include attachments in support of my application?
The only attachments that are accepted are those which are specifically requested in the application form; no further attachments will be accepted.
6. If my organization is selected, how much does my institution have to contribute for counterpart financing from IDB Lab?
For grant projects, each organization is responsible for counterpart contributions of 50% of the total amount of the proposed project. The 50% not covered by the IDB Lab is considered as local counterpart contributions and has to be secured by the organization during the execution of the project. At least half of all counterpart contribution must be provided in cash to cover project implementation costs. The remaining half of the counterpart contribution may be provided in kind, such as the use of conference rooms or office space, use of equipment, and time dedicated by the organization staff for specific activities of the project. For investment projects, contributions may vary by project, but co-investors are expected to share the financial risk by using their own resources.
7. Can my institution receive/seek help from other organizations to meet counterpart financing requirements?
Yes. Applying organizations may utilize resources from a variety of sources including both national and international government agencies, NGOs, foundations and bilateral and multilateral entities, ensuring these funds can be used for the proposed project with IDB Lab.
8. When will I know the outcome of my application?
The selected proposals will be announced in May 2019 on the challenge website.
9. Will I receive feedback on the content of my proposal after winners are selected?
We will not provide individual feedback or comments on proposals at any time.
10. If my organization has received funding from the IDB Lab in the past, can I still apply?
Yes, however IDB Lab does not finance continuation projects, but rather the project idea must be totally new, with different objectives. Also, to apply for funding again, the prior project must demonstrate positive results.
11. Can I send the application in a language other than English and Spanish?
Yes, apart from English and Spanish you can send the application in Portuguese. The eligibility documents (proof of legal registration, by laws, and auditors report) can be submitted in Portuguese, French, English and Spanish.
12. If I have questions related to my submission, who can I contact?
Note that only questions related to technical issues will be answered. You can e-mail your questions to: Bootcamp-Challenge@iadb.org before the final submission deadline. This mail box will be open until the final submission date (April 10th, 2019, 11:59pm ET in Washington D.C.).
1. How do you define a Ready-to-Work Bootcamp?
Ready-to-Work Bootcamps prepare students with no previous experience in high-demand IT jobs in a short period of time (generally less than one year). These models may have three main characteristics: 1) intense rapid-skills training, 2) experiential learning approach, 3) curricula based on, and continuously adapting to industry demand. Depending on the organization, Ready-to-Work coding Bootcamps have yielded job placement rates ranging from 60 to 100% (ITU, 2016).
2. Are you looking for a specific coding language?
No, we are looking for innovative solutions that teach digital skills, in a broad sense and in combination with other highly demanded skills (such as soft skills and English) in a short period of time so that students become immediately employable.
3. Who can participate?
Entities legally registered in one of the 26 borrowing member countries of the IDB in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as organizations outside of the Latin American and the Caribbean region that have an implementing partner legally registered in one of the 26 IDB borrowing member countries are invited to participle in the challenge. Entities eligible to participate include social enterprises, NGOs, non-profits, academic, educational and training institutions (public and private), and private firms offering Ready-to-Work Bootcamps.
4. How do I submit my application?
The application must be completed and submitted online, please visit the platform YOUNOODLE for more information.
5. Can I include attachments in support of my application?
The only attachments that are accepted are those which are specifically requested in the application form; no further attachments will be accepted.
6. If my organization is selected, how much does my institution have to contribute for counterpart financing from IDB Lab?
For grant projects, each organization is responsible for counterpart contributions of 50% of the total amount of the proposed project. The 50% not covered by the IDB Lab is considered as local counterpart contributions and has to be secured by the organization during the execution of the project. At least half of all counterpart contribution must be provided in cash to cover project implementation costs. The remaining half of the counterpart contribution may be provided in kind, such as the use of conference rooms or office space, use of equipment, and time dedicated by the organization staff for specific activities of the project. For investment projects, contributions may vary by project, but co-investors are expected to share the financial risk by using their own resources.
7. Can my institution receive/seek help from other organizations to meet counterpart financing requirements?
Yes. Applying organizations may utilize resources from a variety of sources including both national and international government agencies, NGOs, foundations and bilateral and multilateral entities, ensuring these funds can be used for the proposed project with IDB Lab.
8. When will I know the outcome of my application?
The selected proposals will be announced in May 2019 on the challenge website.
9. Will I receive feedback on the content of my proposal after winners are selected?
We will not provide individual feedback or comments on proposals at any time.
10. If my organization has received funding from the IDB Lab in the past, can I still apply?
Yes, however IDB Lab does not finance continuation projects, but rather the project idea must be totally new, with different objectives. Also, to apply for funding again, the prior project must demonstrate positive results.
11. Can I send the application in a language other than English and Spanish?
Yes, apart from English and Spanish you can send the application in Portuguese. The eligibility documents (proof of legal registration, by laws, and auditors report) can be submitted in Portuguese, French, English and Spanish.
12. If I have questions related to my submission, who can I contact?
Note that only questions related to technical issues will be answered. You can e-mail your questions to: Bootcamp-Challenge@iadb.org before the final submission deadline. This mail box will be open until the final submission date (April 10th, 2019, 11:59pm ET in Washington D.C.).