The Zero Project Call for Nominations 2024 (#ZeroCall24) is focused on Inclusive Education, and ICT. It calls on inclusive, innovative, and scalable solutions from around the world to submit their nominations, which will be evaluated in a multi-step process that includes peer-review and voting. A select number of solutions will receive a Zero Project Award and support through the Zero Project Network.
The Zero Project encourages nominations from all sectors of society – policy makers, startups, academia, civil society, businesses – and especially, those relating to multiple or severe disabilities, humanitarian action, gender equality, the arts, sexual orientation, psychosocial disabilities, or other multiple disadvantaged groups.
The Zero Project has identified seven subtopics within Education (Formal Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Pre-School and Early Childhood Intervention, Non-Formal Education, Digital Learning, Lifelong Learning, and Education in Emergencies) and twelve within ICT (Gaming Solutions, Translation/Conversation Tools, Orientation Systems, Community and Knowledge Platform, Digital Library, Computer Steering Technologies, Mobile Services and Smartphone Apps, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Big Data Solutions, Social Media, Internet of Things, 3D Printing and Robotics and Automated Machinery).
Find out more about Inclusive Education, ICT, and the subtopics here.
#ZeroCall24 opens on Monday May 8, 2023 and nominations will be accepted until Sunday June 18, 2023.
"Zero Project has created a community of friends who are glad and ready to help each other at any time. I see the Zero Project as a big convening power focused on innovating continuously and adapting to change."
Becoming a Zero Project Awardee opens doors, opportunities, and promotion channels to impactful, innovative, and inclusive disability inclusion stakeholders around the world. Each Awardee is invited to showcase solutions at the annual Zero Project Conference, hosted on the grounds at the United Nations Office at Vienna – a three-day Conference boasting 1000+ participants from 80+ countries. During the Conference, Awardees present solutions to a broad international audience, forge connections with entrepreneurs, innovators, and organizations, and tap into new global opportunities.
Beyond the Conference, Awardees receive access to the Zero Project Network, which includes leading organizations, such as the United Nations, international organizations, governments, multinational corporations, international funding agencies, foundations, and globally active non-government organizations. Each Awardee is incorporated into the Zero Project database and the Zero Project publication line, which consists of respective annual reports, sector reports, and the Zero Project Almanac. The Impact Transfer Program and the Zero Project Technology Forum are accelerator programs and B2B channels setup specifically to support the rapid scaling of proven disability innovation solutions.
The Zero Project is a platform and stage, which is provided to all free of charge, towards a world with zero barriers.
Take your chance today, nominate, and join the Zero Project Family!
Click to jump to the respective topic definitions:
The Zero Project Call for Nomination is based on a research-driven approach that aims to identify, curate, and share inclusive solutions, as intended and encouraged by Article 32 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In order to achieve this objective, the Zero Project engages with a worldwide cross-sectoral network of innovators, decision-makers, and disability experts. Both the research and selection processes involve and rely on the expertise of people with lived experience of disabilities.
The #ZeroCall24 topic of Inclusive Education, and ICT relate to a range of UN CRPD articles, which will be referenced in each of the individual sections below for your reference.
To ensure that your nomination falls within the scope of #ZeroCall24, please read carefully through the criteria on which solutions are evaluated and the topic and subtopic definitions here below.
Article 24 – Education of the UN CRPD emphasises that persons with disabilities have the right to education and lifelong learning, without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity. The right to education as stated in Article 24 ensures:
For definitions of the 7 subtopics and to view examples of what types of solutions would be accepted or rejected as part of #ZeroCall24, click on these cards:
Primary, Secondary, and University Education taught in a formal setting, characterized by a curriculum and an end certification recognized and issued by an authorized entity. We encourage nominations that include teaching methods, education specific assistive technology, and holistic accessible education environments.
This includes training for a specific trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study, and ongoing study for those already in established trades or professions.
We encourage nominations on support and education for children up to 6 years old with developmental delays or disabilities, including practices and policies on preschool education based on playing and singing, as well as practical activities such as drawing and painting.
Non-formal education refers to structured and planned education taking place outside of formal systems, oriented towards people of all ages. Some methods in which non-formal education is imparted may be learning through art, dance, music, sport and educational apps.
The last few years have shed light on the necessity of inclusive online education, and of taking advantage of the digital transformation to ensure that everyone, including persons with disabilities, has access to quality education whether online or in a classroom.
We are seeking models, which feature a lifelong learning component. In other words, a model that helps persons with disabilities obtain all forms of education outside of the formal education steps and age ranges listed under the formal education section above.
Wars, epidemics and natural disasters spare no children, especially, children with disabilities. We encourage the nomination of practices, which have enabled adaptive, inclusive, and resilient education to be delivered during crises.
The Zero Project is deliberately going beyond the definition in Article 24 of the CRPD, considering the fact that many innovative solutions have identified gaps in the formal education system – from early childhood to adulthood – as a major barrier for making Inclusive Education work. Some of the innovative solutions focus on transition models, starting as early as preschool age or connecting formal education to vocational education or even employment and lifelong learning, thereby relating to Article 23.
In addition, the training of teachers as well as parents and professionals are innovative strategies often employed to move towards more Inclusive Education environments, supporting Article 27. Non-formal education considers all methods to teach and train that do not employ the conventional textbook/classroom teaching setting, such as using sports, the arts, games, cartoons, or computer apps.
Finally, ICT-driven information and communication tools, such as cloud-based solutions or translation tools (including translation from speech to text, to sign language, or to easy language) are powerful tools to create more Inclusive Education environments, in support of Article 9.
This topic therefore relates to the following UN CRPD articles:
Information & Communication Technology has become very important for persons with disabilities. We have therefore decided to include this topic in each Call for Nominations.
Solutions that are submitted for the ICT topic do not have to relate to the annual research cycle topic. Instead, we encourage nominations across the whole range of ICT, and have introduced 12 subtopics:
Gamification and gaming solutions have become important tools in non-formal educational environments. We welcome technologies that have relevance for persons with disabilities.
Persons with speech impairments of persons with intellectual disabilities often face obstacles to communicate or comprehend. We are looking for solutions that overcome these obstacles and also use artificial intelligence.
Online maps often lack accessibility features and are only of limited use for persons with disabilities. Zero Projects looks forward to nominations that increase the mobility of persons with disabilities through technology.
The availability of online information has increased the need for organizational tools to focus research and to increase efficiency. We welcome nominations of community tools with relevance for persons with disabilities.
The recent pandemic has underlined the need for online information that is accessible for everyone. We welcome solutions that make library content available for persons with different disabilities like visual or hearing impairments.
Persons with disabilities often require special devices or software that supports computer navigation. We are welcoming solutions that show new technologies that facilitate the use of any form of computer.
Mobile phones have become the preferred communication tool for many persons with and without disabilities. Zero Project is looking for mobile services and apps that have support relevance for persons with disabilities.
Artificial Intelligence has become a standard feature in many applications and technologies. We are looking for solutions that benefit persons with disabilities and ensure that the use of AI does not discriminate against them.
Social Media is the relevant communication and information tool for many persons. We would like to receive nominations that demonstrate the benefit and support for persons with disabilities.
Smart household appliances, connected to phones and the internet will make daily routines and tasks easier and more efficient. Zero Project is looking for nominations that highlight the benefits for persons with disabilities.
The availability of spare parts or replacements is sometimes an important barrier for persons with disabilities. 3D printing can not only overcome these barriers but can offer the possibility of new, improved products.
Robots have been invented some time ago, but their relevance is still undoubted. We are looking forward to receiving solutions that feature the support of persons with disabilities.
Solutions are welcomed from all sectors of society and they will be evaluated and selected based on their innovative, impactful and scalable nature.
Any practice or policy will have demonstrated an innovative and effective solution in support of removing barriers in one of the five areas of the Zero Project’s research focus. The research takes into account the local context, geographies, and groups of beneficiaries.
The impact of a particular solution could refer to the number of beneficiaries or people using a service, the solution’s growth rate, or the influence on im-proved public services, among others. Any selected solution must have been deployed and have already had an impact; the selection process does not consider projects or products at a concept stage.
All nominations are reviewed for their potential in replicating and expanding to new geographies or growing in another way that allows a maximum number of persons with disabilities to benefit from the innovation. Among the 800+ solutions that have been awarded since 2013, scalability has been indeed multifaceted, ranging from open-source applications to the replication of effective policies, to the expansion of inclusive start-up solutions to new countries.
The #ZeroCall24 Info Sheet is also available in Easy Language:
The #ZeroCall23 info sheet will provide the most important information on the call for nominations. To download the info sheet in accessible PDF format, simply click on the link below:
Nominating a Practice or a Policy will take an average of two hours.
You will have to answer 26 straightforward questions, which you can preview here:
DOWNLOAD THE #ZEROCALL24 APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Find frequently asked questions and more details about the nomination here:
ZeroCall24 Frequently Asked Questions