Deadline Date: April 18, 2025 Add to Google Calendar
Donor Name: African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat
Grant Size: Not Available
Category: Awards, Prizes and Challenges
Reference URL:https://events.au-afcfta.org/digital-innovation-challenge
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is excited to launch the 2025 Digital Innovation Challenge in Trade, an initiative aimed to empower young African innovators to develop digital solutions that address cross-border trade barriers for MSMEs.
They are looking for bold, scalable, and innovative digital solutions that can enhance intra-African trade and unlock opportunities under the AfCFTA.
Focus Areas
- Applicants should propose digital solutions that support MSMEs in one or more of the following areas:
- Market Intelligence & E-Commerce Platforms – B2B/B2C platforms, trade data solutions, and market information providers.
- E-Commerce & Logistics – Warehousing, last-mile delivery, and digital aggregation of goods/services.
- Cross-Border Professional Services – Leveraging digital tools for the delivery of services across African borders.
- Digital Financial Services – Fintech innovations in payments, investments, insurance, and trade finance.
- Trade & Investment Facilitation – Digital tools to streamline trade procedures, formalities, and compliance.
- Entrepreneurial Skills Development – Digital training, capacity-building, and mentorship platforms for MSMEs.
Benefits
- Showcase your innovative solution at high-profile AfCFTA forum event
- Gain mentorship and Capacity from industry leaders, investors, and more
- Unlock funding and partnerships to scale your innovation and business proposal across Africa
- Networking with key stakeholders in the digital trade ecosystem.
Eligibility Criteria
- This challenge is open to:
- African innovators and entrepreneurs aged 18 – 35.
- Individuals, teams, startups, and enterprises with a digital solution that addresses cross-border trade challenges for MSMEs.
- Early-stage (for example Ideation and Prototype Phase) or growth-stage (Operational and Scaling Phase) solutions.
Assessment Criteria
- All applications will be assessed based on the following:
- Uniqueness of the Innovation
- The potential for expansion or scaling of the solution into multiple African markets?
- Impact on addressing cross-border trade barriers for MSMEs.
- Promoting intra-African trade and economic integration.