Are you a young African entrepreneur who has developed an innovative solution with a demonstrated positive impact on the achievement of the SDGs on the continent? If yes, this call for applications is for YOU.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), through its Subregional office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA), is partnering with the African Youth SDG Summit and AfriLabs to showcase the innovation potential of young African entrepreneurs. The award aims to recognize and reward outstanding young entrepreneurial efforts, that have successfully developed an innovation to resolve a specific development problem for firms, governments, households and communities and with an impact on the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About AfriLabs

AfriLabs is a pan-African network organisation of over 300 Innovation centers across 50 African countries. Each hub serves as a meeting point for entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, tech companies and web/mobile engineers in its community. AfriLabs provides a network for technology and innovation centers across Africa to network, collaborate and share knowledge.

AfriLabs Africa Youth SDG innovation Award

• Category College School
• Organisation AfriLabs
• Country to study–
• School to study–
• Course to study Not specified
• Application Deadline June 11, 2023

Aim and Benefits of AfriLabs Africa Youth SDG innovation Award

• The 6 winners will be invited to present their innovation at the African Youth SDG Summit that will be held in Lusaka, Zambia in August 2023.
• The winners will also be invited to participate in person in one training on innovation that ECA SROSA will organize for small and medium-sized enterprises during 2023-2024. Costs of in-person participation will be borne by ECA.
• ECA SRO-SA will also sponsor the costs of their travel and participation to the Africa Tech Festival in Cape Town, South Africa, November 14-16, 2023.

Requirements for AfriLabs Africa Youth SDG innovation Award Qualification

The Africa Youth SDG innovation Award is open to:

• Any individual of African nationality who was between the age of 18 to 35 as at 31st December 2022
• Who has designed an innovative product or designed an innovative process to resolve a specific development problem for society, and with a demonstrated impact on the achievement of the SDGs. The innovation may have been commercialized or is about to eb commercialized.
• The innovative product or innovative process must be original and must have been developed no earlier than 31st December 2016.

Interview date, Process and Venue for AfriLabs Africa Youth SDG innovation Award

In a first round, applicants will be assessed by a jury composed of public and private sector stakeholders and the top 20 applicants will be invited for a short interview.  In a second round the jury will select 6 winners. Due consideration will be given to gender balance and geographical diversity when selecting the winners.

Application Deadline

June 11, 2023