AFD France, Digital Africa launch challenge to tackle gender inequalities

AFD France, Digital Africa launch challenge to tackle gender inequalities

French Development Agency (AFD- France) and Digital Africa is calling for eligible companies to apply for the AFD Digital Challenge for any innovation that seeks to address any challenges that women in Africa face.

The competition seeks to promote entrepreneurial initiatives managed by women and/or men and tackling the challenges of women’s inclusion and gender inequalities – whether social, economic, cultural or political – and leveraging digital innovation for their development.

Companies that qualify need to demonstrate the existence of a legal form and have a proven activity on the African continent. The companies also need to be owned by women and/or men and have a positive impact on women’s inclusion and the reduction of gender inequalities.

Eligible companies also need to have innovations that leverage on digital technologies to amplify their impact.

The competition is segmented into three categories which include Digital Challenge Initiative, Digital Challenge Success and Digital Challenge – Jury’s Award.

Digital Challenge Initiative: The overall winner in this category will walk away with 15 000€ (Ksh 1.7 million). This category seeks to reward two startups going through the induction phase and demonstrating an outstanding ability to innovate.

Digital Challenge Success: In this category the overall winner will walk away with 50 000€ (Ksh 5.8 million). The category will also reward two startups going through the expansion phase and demonstrating an outstanding ability to scale up and develop.

Digital Challenge – Jury’s Award: The overall winner will get 20 000€ (Ksh 2.8 million). This category will seek to reward one startup demonstrating outstanding originality and uniqueness in its approach to the challenge of women inclusion.

the application process begun on 27th September and closes on 12th November 2018. this will be followed by the selection of the 30 best initiatives qualified for the shortlisting phase and later a selection of the 15 best initiatives qualified for the final selection phase and then the last five winners.

The application form to the competition can be found here.

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