Call for applications on the YouthADAPT Challenge 2023: empowering Africa’s female tech innovators to tackle climate change

A call for applications for the third iteration of the YouthADAPT Challenge, which aims to support young entrepreneurs driving solutions to address climate change, has been released by the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (https://apo-opa.info/3s7IvoI). This is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org) and the Global Center on Adaptation.

Young entrepreneurs running micro, small, and medium-sized businesses in Africa are invited to participate in the annual YouthADAPT competition. The program encourages them to propose creative ideas and business solutions that can promote resilience and climate change adaptation across the continent.

The call this year is focused on female-owned businesses that are at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including robotics, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, virtual reality, the internet of things, additive manufacturing, blockchain, artificial intelligence, robotics, and fifth-generation wireless for climate adaptation.

Supported by the AfDB and the Africa Climate Change Fund (https://ACCF.AfDB.org/), each winner will receive $100,000 in addition to coaching and mentorship to advance their business ideas and solutions for adapting to climate change. In order to gain knowledge from a vibrant network of young entrepreneurs across Africa, they will also become members of the YouthADAPT Alumni Network.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 in order to be eligible. Their projects ought to be driven by young people and provide workable answers to actual climate problems. They need to have at least two years’ worth of accounts, be registered, and be in operation in Africa.

Apply at https://apo-opa.info/3Q8WLVZ, the YouthADAPT competition portal. Applications must be submitted by November 5, 2023, at 17:00 GMT. On October 23, 2023, at 11:00 GMT, there will be an information session to discuss the YouthADAPT Challenge 2023. The topics of eligibility requirements, the application procedure, crucial dates, and benefits of participation—like grants, mentorship, and company development services—will all be covered in this session.