UNDP WACA Youth Innovation Challenge 2022

The United Nations Development Programme Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa (UNDP WACA) has launched this Challenge calling for young entrepreneurs and innovators with impactful solutions in West and Central Africa.

The UNDP WACA Youth Innovation Challenge is an initiative designed to identify and support the transformative innovations and resilience of young people from West and Central Africa. It follows the 2021 inaugural edition – Sahel Innovate Challenge – which provided 10 youth from across the Sahel Region with funding ranging from $1,000 – $20,000 to bolster their innovations.

About United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results. This is a critical time for the world. At UNDP, we see this period as a huge opportunity to advance the global sustainable development agenda. In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all ... read more

UNDP WACA Youth Innovation Challenge

Aim and Benefits of UNDP WACA Youth Innovation Challenge

• Five finalists will be fully funded to participate and pitch their solutions at the 2022 YouthConnekt Sahel Forum in N’Djamena, Chad and win funding of up to $50,000 (total award envelope to be awarded to the top 5 innovators).
• Opportunities for young innovators to access funding and partnership opportunities.
• Evaluation committees will identify 30 pre-selected youth to join the WACA innovator network and access peer-to-peer learning, coaching, and training opportunities.

Requirements for UNDP WACA Youth Innovation Challenge Qualification

• You must be between 18 and 35 years old.
• A citizen (can be in diaspora) of a West & Central African country: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
• The best existing solutions (with tangible impact) in the following thematic areas: Digital Transformation, COVID-19 Recovery, Health, Education, Peace and Security, Cultural and Creative Arts, Agroforestry and Climate Change.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Upload a video pitch of not more than 2-minutes.

Video Submission Guidelines

• Recording should be done in a quiet place with no music or background noise (Listen to your audio before uploading the video and ensure you are audible).
• The video should answer the question: What is the impact of your solution in your community, and what is its value and potential?
• Keep the camera in a still position to avoid a shaky recording.
• Ensure the picture quality of your video is clear.
• Videos should be shot in “landscape/widescreen” mode.
• Recording should not exceed 2 minutes and can be recorded in English, French, or Portuguese.

For more details,visit UNDP website