You can apply if you:
- Are a Bangladeshi citizen
- Are 18–26 years old
- Are currently in your 3rd year or above at a university in Bangladesh
- Or are a recent undergraduate or postgraduate graduate (within one year)
- Can come from any academic discipline
About the Challenge
This is more than a pitch. It is a chance to question assumptions, learn by doing and move an idea closer to reality.
The Frugal Innovation Challenge 2027 invites young people in Bangladesh to explore how different adaptive ways can help people adapt to climate risks in their everyday lives.
Work in an interdisciplinary team, start with a real problem, develop an idea, and take it through a rigorous journey of proposal development, mentorship, field immersion, residential bootcamp and pitching. Selected teams will have the opportunity to connect with the wider Frugal Innovation Forum (FIF) ecosystem and take their ideas further.
Who can apply?
Check if you and your team are eligible.
You cannot apply if you:
- Are not Bangladeshi
- Are outside the 18–26 age range
- Have an established business
- Are currently doing a professional Master's programme
Start with a climate problem
Climate change affects how people…
grow food
earn a living
access water
stay healthy
manage everyday life
You don’t have to be a climate expert. The strongest idea might come from someone who sees the problem differently. Choose the challenge area that speaks to you.
What does a climate problem look like in everyday life?
Meet Lokkhi
For Lokkhi and her family, changing weather doesn't affect just one part of life. Unpredictable rain can put a harvest at risk. Heat can affect health and work. Changing water conditions can create new challenges. When something goes wrong, the financial pressure can reach the whole family…
Explore endless possibilities across five focus areas
Where do you see an opportunity to make a difference?
-
Climate adaption for Agriculture & Livelihoods
How could you help farmers and other workers make better decisions as weather and climate conditions change?
-
Urban Life & Work
How could you help people deal with heat, flooding, transport disruption or other climate-related challenges in cities?
-
Climate adaptive financial protection
What could help people prepare financially before a climate-related loss happens—or recover without falling deeper into debt?
-
Water Resource Management
How could better information or new approaches help people manage changing water conditions?
-
Health & Resilience
How could people better protect their health when extreme heat, flooding or other climate risks affect everyday life?
You don't have to fit neatly into one area. Your idea can connect multiple problems
and perspectives.
Your idea grows as you do
- 01
Choose a problem
Find a real climate adaptation problem you notice and want to take action.
- 02
Apply with your idea
Submit your team's initial idea and approach
- 03
Develop your idea
Shortlisted teams work on a more detailed proposal.
- 04
Get mentorship
Learn from mentors and improve your idea.
- 05
Field Visit
Meet practitioners and understand the problem firsthand.
- 06
Join the bootcamp
Work with your team to improve your idea.
- 07
Pitch your idea
Present your idea at the final pitch.
- 08
Take it further
Get opportunities to keep developing your idea and connect with BRAC’s Frugal Innovation Forum ecosystem
Why Take the Challenge?
Come to learn, not just compete.
Turn your idea into action
This is about doing something impactful with your idea, not winning a pitch contest.
Learn from practitioners
Get direct access to climate and development experts working on the ground, not just commentary.
Get closer to the problem
Go beyond theory and experience the realities behind the problem through field immersion.
Join the FIF ecosystem
Strong ideas and teams get a path into the wider Frugal Innovation Forum, beyond the Challenge itself.
Start with real support
Three winning teams each receive BDT 100,000 to take their idea further.
