African Development Bank has opened an application for the AFD Digital challenge 2021. High-impact tech startups in Africa are invited to apply. The challenge was launched in 2016 and has since been rewarding the most innovative African startups, research centers, and groups that leverage digital technology to solve Africa’s challenges and attain sustainable development goals.
For the past 5 years, 35 African startups have benefitted from the challenge in terms of coaching and financial support to enhance their businesses.
The participants of this year’s edition of the FD Digital Challenge will be given tasks to create innovative solutions to challenges linked with the digital transition and those related to climate protection and biodiversity, in correlation with Goal 13 of the UN SDGs.
Themes of challenge
Startups, research centers, and associations will develop sustainable digital solutions on the themes below:
- Preserving natural resources:
- Preventing and reacting to natural disasters, including prediction and data, civil protection systems, business continuity plans for climate incidents, warning systems, etc.
- Contributing to the preservation of ecosystems and helping the most vulnerable populations to adapt to climate change.
Benefits of participation
- €20,000
- International Visibility
- Customized support
Eligibility criteria
You may apply if
- You are the founder/co-founder of an innovative African startup;
- Your project is related to one of the themes presented above and detailed in the rules;
- Your project is already on the market and is in the seed/launch phase;
- Your project has a legal structure as well as a sustainable and autonomous business model;
- Digital technology is at the core of your solution.
To apply
Click here to register for the AFD Digital Challenge 2021.
Deadline for Challenge
Entries close on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.
