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Vizag named finalist in ‘Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge 2025

Vizag named finalist in ‘Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge 2025

The Hindu27-06-2025
Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao announced that Visakhapatnam has been selected as one of the 50 global finalists in the 'Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayors Challenge 2025, a global innovation competition designed to support transformative ideas from cities around the world.
In a release on Friday, the Mayor said that this sixth edition of the Mayors Challenge attracted over 630 applications from cities across 99 countries. Visakhapatnam is one of 50 cities selected from 33 countries, representing more than 80 million residents worldwide. The city will receive $50,000 in seed funding and expert support to prototype its innovative idea aimed at strengthening community-based climate resilience and emergency response.
GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said that the civic body will develop its Prajamukhi- Urban Living Lab, focusing on co-creation and citizen engagement to tackle climate - induced risks such as floods, cyclones, and extreme heat. The proposal emphasises local innovation, encouraging community-led risk mapping, real-time data collection, and the deployment of early alert systems. GVMC's ideation team will join Bloomberg Philanthropies' Ideas Camp in July 2025 to refine the concept before competing for one of 25 final awards of $1 million each, to be announced in January 2026.
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organisation focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: arts, education, environment, government innovation and public health.
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