UNICEF StartUp Lab Cohort 5: Empowering Tech-Driven Social Impact Startups in Ghana
The UNICEF StartUp Lab is now accepting purposes for a six-month accelerator programme for its subsequent cohort of 25 progressive, technology-driven social impression startups in Ghana which are creating social impression. The programme focuses on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for youngsters and younger folks throughout numerous sectors, together with Health, Education, Urban Services, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Climate Action, Child Protection, Finance, Agriculture, Blockchain, Frontier Technologies (AI/ML), and Cybersecurity.
Programme Overview
Launched in 2019, the UNICEF StartUp Lab is led by UNICEF in Ghana, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and applied by MEST Africa. The programme goals to speed up progressive, market-driven, transformative options developed by younger Ghanaian companies that tackle complicated challenges affecting the well-being of kids and younger folks, significantly essentially the most susceptible.
Key Benefits
- Funding Opportunities: Access to GHS 75,000 for prototyping and GHS 150,000 for scale-up funding for 3 startups.
- Business Acceleration: Intensive, hands-on help to amplify companies’ impression in Ghana and past.
- Investment Opportunities: Networking and funding prospects for contributors and alumni, together with potential entry to the UNICEF Venture Fund.
- Resources: Engagements with KOICA and different improvement companions, together with tech perks like AWS cloud storage credit.
- Partnerships: Opportunities to attach and collaborate with UNICEF programmes in well being, training, WASH, and social safety.
- Social Impact Recognition: Refinement of options to align with social impression targets and potential recognition as UN-acknowledged Digital Public Goods (DPGs).
Digital Public Goods Initiative
The initiative serves as a hub for locating and creating Digital Public Goods (DPGs) in Ghana. This initiative aligns with the UN Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and is supported by the UNICEF Office of Innovation to advertise the DPG agenda in Ghana. In 2021, one of many lab’s graduates was formally registered as a DPG by the Digital Public Goods Alliance, marking the primary such recognition for a startup from West Africa. Since then, 4 companies from the lab have develop into registered Digital Public Goods from Ghana.
Eligibility Criteria
- Startups should be primarily based in Ghana.
- Innovations ought to tackle challenges affecting youngsters and younger folks.
- Applicants ought to reveal a dedication to advancing the SDGs.
Regions Applicable to
- Open solely to startups primarily based in Ghana.
All candidates should be legally registered or working inside Ghana and reveal a powerful dedication to creating options that positively impression youngsters and younger folks in the nation.
How To Apply
- Complete the online application form obtainable on the UNICEF Ghana website.
- Provide detailed details about the startup, together with its mission, impression, and scalability.
- Submit any extra required paperwork as specified in the application tips.
Application Deadline: May 15, 2025
Contact Information
For extra data:
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UNICEF StartUp Lab Cohort 5: Empowering Tech-Driven Social Impact Startups in Ghana
