The administrators of the Grand Challenge are committed to the highest levels of integrity

  • The Challenge is administered by Conservation X Labs (CXL). CXL designed the application questions, the challenge process, and they are administering the competition. CXL is responsible for day-to-day coordination and decision making. It is in the best interest of CXL and its coalition of partner organizations to be transparent in the implementation of the Challenge.

  • The coalition of partner organizations were not integral in designing the Challenge process or application. Members of the coalition of partner organizations will be integral to the external review and judging process. 

     

  • The Challenge is committed to the highest levels of integrity. Members of the coalition of partners organizations, the external reviewers, and judges, are expected to conduct their relationships with each other, the Challenge, and outside organizations with objectivity and honesty. 

  • The general rule is that coalition partner organizations, external reviewers, and judges are obligated to avoid and disclose ethical, legal, financial, or other conflicts of interest involving the Challenge. They must also remove themselves, or accept a request to recuse from a decision or step down from a position of decision-making authority with respect to any conflict situation involving the Challenge.

  • Individuals from the coalition of partner organizations may be a part of a team that applies to the Challenge. However, the individuals who are representatives of these partner organizations (the individuals who are the Challenge Points of Contact for CXL) may not be an applicant, either as an individual or on a team. In addition, external reviewers and judges may not be an applicant, either as an individual or on a team. 

  • If any of the semi-finalist teams are affiliated with a coalition partner organization, then a representative of that organization cannot be a part of the final judging panel that recommends monetary prizes. A representative of the coalition partner organization can judge applicants in the first evaluation round, but they must the recuse themselves from evaluating any proposals that they are partnering on.

  • External reviewers and judges will sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to ensure that information relevant to your application is not shared beyond the Challenge.

  • An ombudsman has been assigned to this Challenge. If you have any specific questions/concerns about the integrity of the Challenge application process, please feel free to contact: ombudsman@conservationxlabs.org