The DM2008 competition received more than 1,700 applications. During the months of April, May and June, eligible proposals will be reviewed by more than 200 development experts working for the World Bank and external partner organizations. Focused on each idea's innovation, potential for growth, realism, sustainability and results, assessors narrow down applicants to a pool of 100 finalists. Assessors participating in the DM2008 review process come from the following organizations: International Development and UN Agencies: The World Bank International Finance Corporation (IFC) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US Agency for International Development (USAID) Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Southern African Development Secretariat UN-HABITAT Government Entities: US State Department US Environmental Protection Agency US Geological Survey Ministry of Local Government, Uganda Ministry of Lands, Ghana Ministry of Agriculture, Benin Dept of Land Administration, Canada Dept of Natural Resources, Quebec NGOs and Research Groups: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation International The Nature Conservancy World Wildlife Fund EcoAgriculture Partners World Resources Institute Urban Institute Academy for Educational Development Chemonics Meridian International Center Rural Innovations Network Research Institute Ambiental PV Abt Associates BearingPoint Inc J.E. Austin Associates Land Matters Consultancy Speck Systems Ltd de-MAPPERS CIRAD Academia: Bandung Institute of Technology Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology University of Botswana University of Cambridge University of East London Ateneo de Naga University University of Sarajevo Lund University University of Vienna University of Gothenburg Philipps-University Marburg University of Baltimore University of Maryland Catholic University Georgetown University Duke University University of Florida Grand Valley State University University of Colorado-Boulder SUNY |