A few of this year's semi-finalists include:

Cooperación Comunitaria, which works with marginalized communities in Mexico's most seismically active region to build housing that is affordable, seismically sound, sustainable, and culturally appropriate.

The African Design Center “aims to transform the African built environment through a comprehensive program to recruit and train the next generation of African designers and architects.”

Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) produces sustainably designed feminine hygiene products made out of discarded banana fiber. They call out the lacking availability of such products in developing countries, as well as broader taboos surrounding menstruation. 

(cover image) Taking Roots' CommuniTree project works “to tackle deforestation, climate change, and poverty, through a comprehensive reforestation and carbon sequestration strategy” in Nicaragua and Guatemala, in collaboration with local rural farmers and their families.

Check out the full list of semifinalists on Bustler.