The WDCD Refugee Challenge was the first global creative competition initiated by What Design Can Do. Launched in 2015 with the support of partners IKEA Foundation and the UNHCR, the challenge was officially closed with a grand finale on 7 March, 2017 in Amsterdam. On this day, the 5 finalists gathered to present their developed concepts and business cases for the final time. 

The winning projects were first announced during WDCD Live Amsterdam 2016, by none other than the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders. Throughout the entire challenge process, our international jury were hugely impressed with the scale of involvement that the challenge inspired. The staggering number of 631 entries came from mixed teams most of which had engaged meaningfully on the Challenge.

Read more about the exciting finale at our blog, or take a look at all 25 of the shortlisted projects below.
For more detailed background information, the briefs, research documents and downloads, please visit the Refugee Challenge platform.