MUMBAI: BBC World in association with Shell and Newsweek have come together to search for, highlight and reward individuals or groups that have used enterprise and innovation to the benefit of local communities through The World Challenge.

The World Challenge is a competition that is being launched following the success of the Hands On Strand within BBC World’s award-winning environmental programme, Earth Report. This highlighted noteworthy projects undertaken by firms, communities and enterprising individuals around the globe.

A panel of judges – including representatives from BBC World, Shell and Newsweek – will shortlist the 12 entries that they feel are the best examples of community-based business, development or environmental projects.

BBC World will then produce 15-minute programmes on each nominee, examining how the initiative began, its inspiration and why it is socially and environmentally successful. These six films will be broadcast on BBC World in August and September, and the channel’s viewers will be invited to vote online for the most commendable and inspirational project.

Newsweek will replicate this with a print campaign that includes a series of advertorials, aimed at driving its readers to the online voting site. The campaign will run throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America. Once voting has closed, the winner of The World Challenge will be announced at a special ceremony in November and will receive a $20,000 grant from Shell to benefit their project.

BBC World director airtime sales Jonathan Howlett says, "We know that BBC World’s influential, upscale business-focused viewers take a great interest in global development issues. The World Challenge offers an opportunity to promote outstanding initiatives in this field to an intelligent, knowledgeable audience.