The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Innovation Challenge 2026 for young African innovators. – Opportunities For Africans

Application Deadline: September 4th, 2026

Applications are actually open for the 2026 African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Innovation Challenge. 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 excited to launch the second version of the AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge to determine, nurture, and showcase revolutionary digital options, notably these developed by ladies and young 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 function and significance of this programme in cultivating a brand new era of African innovators whose options contribute to strengthen intra-African commerce and the conclusion of a seamless, inclusive and built-in African Digital Market.

Requirements

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 show how their proposed digital resolution addresses current boundaries to cross-border commerce and contributes to the implementation of the AfCFTA.
• The innovation resolution must be in operational to scaling section.

Selection Criteria

Top 50 Shortlisted Innovators

The high 50 shortlisted innovators will obtain foundational assist aimed toward strengthening their data, increasing skilled networks, and rising the visibility of their improvements by:

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

Top 10 Winners

The high 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 traders, strategic companions, prospects, and different ecosystem stakeholders.
• Featured promotion by 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 high 5 winners will obtain the Challenge’s highest stage of recognition and strategic assist, together with:

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

Benefits

• Showcase your revolutionary resolution as an answer for the conclusion of a single African digital market
• Gain mentorship, expertise and capability from related consultants to assist in scaling your innovation resolution
• Unlock investments and partnerships to scale your innovation and enterprise proposal by platforms organized or cohosted by AfCFTA Secretariat with different companions
• Networking with key stakeholders within the digital commerce ecosystem.

How to Apply

• Submit your proposal by the application hyperlink by 4th September 2026.
• For inquiries, please contact the AfCFTA Secretariat @ [email protected]

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Innovation Challenge