Thai Students Develop Software Products to Address Key Development Challenges in Asia

Microsoft has teamed up in Thailand with USAID for the Imagine Cup 2014, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious technology development competitions.  One of the categories of the Imagine Cup, the World Citizen Contest, challenges students to develop software products that can directly impact people’s lives. 

USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia helped define six thematic focus areas in Thailand, including: Forests, Ecosystems, and Climate Change; Clean Energy and Climate Change; Food Security and Climate Change; HIV/AIDS; Biodiversity Conservation; and Good Governance.

USAID partners are serving as mentors to the students, including representatives from USAID projects such as Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST), Mekong Adaptation & Resilience to Climate Change (Mekong ARCC), Lowering Emissions from Asia’s Forests (LEAF), and Low Emissions Asian Development (LEAD).  

More than 80 students participated in a mentoring event held on November 9^th and proposals from students are due December 10^th.

More details can be found at ImagineCup.com.

Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update