The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Innovation Challenge 2025 for young African innovators.

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Application Deadline: 18th April 2025.

Applications at the moment are open for the 2025 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Innovation Challenge. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is happy to launch the 2025 Digital Innovation Challenge in Trade, an initiative aimed to empower young African innovators to develop digital options that deal with cross-border commerce obstacles for MSMEs. We are trying for daring, scalable, and progressive digital options that may improve intra-African commerce and unlock Opportunities below the AfCFTA.

Eligibility Requirements

This problem is open to:

• African innovators and entrepreneurs aged 18 – 35.
  Individuals, groups, startups, and enterprises with a digital resolution that addresses cross-border commerce challenges for MSMEs.
• Early-stage (for instance Ideation and Prototype Phase) or growth-stage (Operational and Scaling Phase) options.

Focus Areas

Applicants ought to suggest digital options that assist MSMEs in a number of of the next areas:

• Market Intelligence & E-Commerce Platforms – B2B/B2C platforms, commerce knowledge options, and market data suppliers.
• E-Commerce & Logistics – Warehousing, last-mile supply, and digital aggregation of products/companies.
• Cross-Border Professional Services – Leveraging digital instruments for the supply of companies throughout African borders.
• Digital Financial Services – Fintech improvements in funds, investments, insurance coverage, and commerce finance.
• Trade & Investment Facilitation – Digital instruments to streamline commerce procedures, formalities, and compliance.
• Entrepreneurial Skills Development – Digital coaching, capacity-building, and mentorship platforms for MSMEs.

Selection Criteria

All purposes shall be assessed primarily based on the next:

• Uniqueness of the Innovation
• The potential for growth or scaling of the answer into a number of African markets?
• Impact on addressing cross-border commerce obstacles for MSMEs.
• Promoting intra-African commerce and financial integration.

Benefits

• Selection of fifty Finalists – Shortlisted innovators will be a part of a capacity-building program on creating a marketing strategy and/or pitch for their innovation
• Top 10 Finalists chosen – Finalists will current their pitches on the AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum in May 2025.
• Top 5 (5) Winners Announced and to pitch at BIASHARA AFRIKA 2025
• Winning innovators will obtain recognition, funding, mentorship, and entry to finance Opportunities.

Application Timeline:

• Applications Open: twenty sixth March 2025
• Application Deadline: 18th April 2025
  

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the UNDP Africa AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge