African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Innovation Challenge 2026 – YOA

Deadline: September 4, 2026

Applications are open for the AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge 2026. As Africa advances the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade aswell because the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is worked up to launch the second version of the AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge to establish, nurture, and showcase progressive digital options, notably these developed by girls and younger entrepreneurs, that advances the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade aswell because the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.

The inaugural AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge demonstrated the position and significance of this programme in cultivating a brand new technology of African innovators whose options contribute to strengthen intra-African commerce and the belief of a seamless, inclusive and built-in African Digital Market.

Benefits

Top 50 Shortlisted Innovators: The prime 50 shortlisted innovators will obtain foundational assist geared toward strengthening their data, increasing skilled networks, and growing the visibility of their improvements via:

• Participation in AfCFTA Secretariat led capability constructing programmes on digital commerce.
• Access to networking and collaboration alternatives inside Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
• Inclusion within the AfCFTA innovation group.

Top 10 Winners: The prime 10 winners will obtain focused enterprise improvement assist to speed up the commercialisation and scaling of their improvements together with:

• Enrollment in a tailor-made incubation or acceleration programme.
• Opportunities to showcase their improvements to potential buyers, strategic companions, clients, and different ecosystem stakeholders.
• Featured promotion via AfCFTA communication platforms, digital channels, and flagship occasions.
• Priority entry to take part in AfCFTA platforms aligned with their innovation.

Top 5 Grand Winners: The prime 5 winners will obtain the Challenge’s highest degree of recognition and strategic assist, together with:

• Formal recognition and unveiling throughout a excessive-degree AfCFTA Forum.
• An unique engagement session with H.E. the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat to debate their improvements and discover alternatives for collaboration.
• Tailored mentorship from business leaders and entry to enterprise improvement advisory companies.
• Designation as AfCFTA Digital Innovation Champions, serving as ambassadors for the AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge.

Eligibility

This problem is open to:

• Individuals, groups, startups, and enterprises of an African Union Member State.
• Applications are open to African innovators and entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 years
• Applicants should display how their proposed digital resolution addresses present limitations to cross-border commerce and contributes to the implementation of the AfCFTA.
• The innovation resolution needs to be in operational to scaling part.

Application

Submit your proposal via the application hyperlink by 4th September 2026.

Click here to apply

For extra info, go to AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge.