Introduction
Each year, AFD hosts the AFD Challenge to find and highlight creative concepts submitted by African start-ups. These solutions aid in the advancement of Africa and the accomplishment of the SDGs there.
The emergence of new technologies has increased Africa’s connectivity day by day. The continent is also home to digital breakthroughs, which must be supported in order to realize their potential for transformation. One of the main goals of the AFD Digital Challenge competition is to find and support the most brilliant digital entrepreneurs in Africa. Currently, several startups are also socially changing their region.
For instance, a former competition winner named Gifted Mom addresses the issue of medical deserts in West Africa by offering prenatal care to 5,000 women using a smartphone application. Another illustration is Etudesk, which promotes training in Côte d’Ivoire by providing online educational materials.
What is AFD Digital Challenge
The AFD Digital Challenge is an annual competition open to digital start-ups that create and implement innovative solutions for Africa’s development.
Every year, a theme related to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is identified and proposed to candidates. Hundreds of start-ups submit projects that promote digital technologies in education, training, health, transportation and sustainable cities, rural transformation, the environment, and climate.
What can we expect from the AFD Challenge?
The competition identifies and supports Africa’s top ten digital innovation talents. These winners will receive up to €20,000 in funding to help them realize their project and maximize its social and environmental impact. They also receive personalized professional and strategic support for a year. The high profile of the AFD Digital Challenge raises awareness of the
The AFD Digital Challenge’s high profile gives the winners more visibility and helps them make a name for themselves in Africa and internationally.
The first three editions of the competition received over 2,000 applications from 45 African countries between 2016 and 2019. During this time, AFD awarded grants to 25 African start-ups working on issues ranging from gender inequality to e-health, fintechs, e-learning, and sustainable cities. Because of this success, the project has been extended for three years, from 2019 to 2021.
The goal of the AFD Challenge
For the sixth year in a row, AFD Group has increased its support for African start-ups and digital players. Since 2016, the AFD Digital Challenge’s annual goal has been to find promising projects, promote them, and accelerate their development. This year’s AFD Digital Challenge focuses on digital technologies for the cultural and creative industries. The Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) are not just a source of entertainment, but also an important economic and social development tool. These businesses’ importance extends beyond their potential for economic production, as they actively contribute to social cohesion, inclusiveness, the valorization of African traditions, and citizen emancipation.
You can sign up now!
Applications have opened for the sixth edition of the AFD Digital Challenge, which is dedicated to the cultural and creative industries.
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