WAFA - Global Case Study Competition

ON Nature-Based & Community Innovation

In collaboration with Global University Network

ONLINE - 1 OCTOBER 2026
14:00 - 18:00 CET

CALLING ALL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, PROFESSORS,

CLIMATE/SUSTAINABILITY ORGANIZATIONS, & GRASSROOT COMMUNITIES

This Case Study is a collaboration between WAFA and Global University Network to connect research institutions to real-world problem-solving around Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) Nature-Based Solutions and Community Innovations.

The initiative blends academic insight, practitioner expertise, and experiential learning, while offering students an opportunity to participate in a global innovation challenge.

This Global Case Study Competition has been shared with 35+ universities globally.

REGISTRATION OPEN UNTIL

1st OCTOBER 12:00 PM CET

REGISTER NOW

By registering, you agree to the terms and privacy policy.

AGENDA

OPENING

WELCOME MESSAGE

Tina Lindgreen

WAFA Executive Chairperson & CEO

WORKSHOP OPENING

Kristel Piibur

WAFA Director Operations & Strategy

Interactive Workshop & Keynote Sessions

Dr. Petra Rácz-Putzer

Assistant Professor at Pécs University

HUNGARY


TOPIC: Social Entrepreneur as Possible Future of CSR and Measuring Social Entrepreneurial Attitude Among Student

Christopher Waithaka

WAFA SILENT HERO

KENYA

Co-Founder & Director

Komb Green Solutions

TOPIC: Komb Green  Solutions - Turning Criminal Youth to Climate Pioneers

Dr. Datta Bahadur Rawal

WAFA SILENT HERO

NEPAL

Executive Chairman

Partnership For Sustainable Development Nepal (PSDN)


TOPIC: Water Security for Deprived Communities generating 20,820 cubic meters of safe water annually

GAMIFIED TEAM-BASED CHALLENGE

  • Participants are split into categories (breakout rooms).

  • Teams work on a guided case challenge.

  • Focus on solution design, impact logic, and feasibility.

TEAM PRESENTATION

  • 5 minutes per team

  • Focused on:

    Problem Understanding,
    Innovation & Impact,

    Practical Applicability

GLOBAL CASE STUDY COMPETITION OPENING

Nina Rose Dyrved Holm

CBS MBA
Innovation and Business Development


TOPIC: 1st Case Study Competition WINNER Presentation
ACE Commons Innovation Engine
PHILIPPINES

Kristel Piibur

WAFA Director Operations & Strategy


TOPIC: Opening of Global Case Study Competition Autumn 2026

Michael Adamson

WAFA Head of Case Study Evaluation Committee


TOPIC: Overview of Evaluation Criteria

WHAT’S NEXT?

THE CASE STUDY COMPETITION & SUBMISSION BY OCTOBER 15th MIDNIGHT

  • After presentation, students will be formally introduced to the Case Study Competition framework, including objectives, guidelines, timelines, and assessment criteria.

  • Students will be granted access to WAFA Sustainability PLATFORM.

  • Students will have up to 48 hours of total working time to develop and submit their case study solutions.

  • Submission is required to be part of the competition and winner will be announced on October, 2026

  • Winners will present their results live at Copenhagen Green Business Forum on 20 November, 2026.

CATEGORIES AVAILABLE

Students will select their preferred challenge areas from the following four thematic categories:

Each participant will indicate:
One primary category (1st preference)
One secondary category (2nd preference)

CASE STUDY TRACK: 

To ensure academic flexibility and inclusivity, students may choose between team-based or individual participation.

Option 1: Team-Based Case Study Track

  • Students will be organized into interdisciplinary teams of 5–6 participants.

  • Within each thematic category, teams will choose from a selection of predefined case briefs, derived from WAFA 2026 shortlisted award projects.

  • Each team will select one case and develop a collective solution in accordance with the provided academic guidelines and deliverables.

Option 2: Individual Case Study Track

  • Students may elect to complete the case study individually.

  • The same thematic categories, case briefs, assessment criteria, and submission requirements as the team-based track will apply.

  • All analysis, outputs, and final submissions must be completed independently.

BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATION

GAIN GRASSROOTS

INNOVATION & KNOWLEDGE

Learn about real life bottom of pyramid projects and understand how academia work links to real life projects.

GAIN CERTIFICATION

ALL Participants who will submit their case study application will receive a certificate after the winners' announcement.

EXPOSURE TO GLOBAL NETWORK & PRESENT IN GENERATION GREEN,

CAIRO FOR WINNER

Learn about global sustainability platform

And how to be part of global network.

Copenhagen Green Business Forum

Winner will present their innovation in Green Business Forum in Copenhagen, 20TH of November 2026 alongside our Silent Heroes and received recognition of innovation, sustainability impact, and implementation potential together with Silent Heroes on the ground, setting up an actual collaboration.

They will have opportunity to showcase the research results with global community & receive media exposure.

REGISTRATION OPEN UNTIL
1st OCTOBER 12:00 PM CET

COMMITMENT FEE: 10 EURO

By registering, you agree to the terms and privacy policy.

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