Innovation for Women in Africa AFD Digital Challenge 2018 for startups promoting gender equality (85 000€ prize)

Innovation for Women in Africa AFD Digital Challenge 2018 for startups promoting gender equality (85 000€ prize)

 

Application Deadline : November 12th 2018

 

The third edition of the AFD Digital Challenge is dedicated to reduce inequalities between men and women on the African continent. The competition is aimed at start-ups which offer innovative services that promote gender equality.

Context

Equality between women and men is a central featureof the french Five-Year Plan, and constitutes a strategic focus for the AFD. On this basis, AFD is committed to ensuring that 50% of its annual commitments are dedicated to gender equality: Its interventions are structured around five major issues:

1. Ensuring access to basic services ;
2. Combating violence against women ;
3. Guaranteeing access to training and employment opportunities ;
4. Ensuring women’s participation in decision-making and project governance ;
5. Only in the context of CSO projects: Change the representations that underpin gender inequalities.

Goal

Digital technology at the service of equality between women and men.

The digital transition is an opportunity for the development of services for social inclusion, and is an accelerator for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Equality between women and men and the empowerment of women are at the heart of the international agenda for sustainable development.

The third edition of the AFD Digital Challenge is dedicated to reduce inequalities between men and women on the African continent. The competition is aimed at start-ups which offer innovative services that promote gender equality in Africa.

 

Requirements :

ligible projects for the AFD Digital Challenge are those that take into account the specific constraints and issues of women, and facilitate the access to :

• Education, vocational training, mentoring and tutoring services ;
• Health services (including sexual health and reproduction) ;
• Employment and professional opportunities, including women’s participation in sectors that traditionally employ men ;
• Financial services and other markets ;
• Information about rights and access to judicial services ;
• Mobility and transport.

Will also be considered projects that contribute to :

• The deconstruction of gender stereotypes (eg media) ;
• The fight against gender-based violence ;
• The development of practices that do not discriminate against women (eg in the professional world, at school, etc.).

The challenge will be open to all entrepreneurs who have developed innovative solutions for Africa on this topic.

 

Participants in the contest

Projects eligible for the challenge are those that take into account the specific constraints of women and facilitate access to :

• Education, vocational training, mentoring and tutoring services ;
• Health services (including sexual health and reproduction) ;
• Employment and professional opportunities, including women’s participation in buoyant sectors traditionally occupied by men ;
• Access to economic and financial services ;
• Access to information about legal rights and access to judicial services ;
• Access to mobility and transport.

As well as the participating projects :

• Deconstruction of gender stereotypes (eg media) ;
• Development of non-discriminatory practices towards women (eg in the professional world, at school…).

 

Awards

Award-winning startups will receive financial and technical support.

The Challenge will reward three categories of projects :

• AFD Digital Challenge Initiative, which rewards two start-up startups in the seed phase, remarkable by their capacity for innovation ;
• Definition of seed stage in the context of the competition : the start-up is currently developing its prototype or its first product and is entering the commercialization phase ;
• AFD Digital Success Challenge, which rewards two start-ups in the development phase that are remarkable for their ability to grow and expand ;
• Definition of the development phase in the context of the competition : The start-up is positioned within its sector and its market, covers part of its costs through the income generated by its activities and to a well-established clientele ;
• AFD Digital Challenge – Jury Award, which rewards a company that stands out for its original approach to women’s inclusion and gender equality, regardless of its stage of development ;
• All of the winners of this third edition of the AFD Digital Challenge will benefit from unprecedented visibility and privileged access to a global network of partners, customers and investors. They integrate a community that brings together the best talents of digital innovation, in Africa and for Africa, sharing experiences and practices.

 

Digital challenge initiative

15 000€

Rewarding two startups going through the induction phase and demonstrating an outstanding ability to innovate.

 

Digital challenge success

50 000€

Rewarding two startups going through the expansion phase and demonstrating an outstanding ability to scale up and develop.

 

Digital challenge – jury’s award

20 000€

Rewarding one startup demonstrating outstanding originality and uniqueness in its approach to the challenge of women inclusion.

Apply here