The SDG Innovation Challenge 2022 for young Africans

Young Africans students, professionals, community activists, social entrepreneurs, change makers, and all other interested individuals in Africa who wish to work with like-minded people committed to making a difference from the grassroots level are invited to apply for The SDG Innovation Challenge 2022. This year’s challenge theme is Transformative Solutions against Global Challenges – Accountability in Leveraging Youth Action to Create and Empower.

The SDG Innovation Challenge is designed as a virtual, pan-African ideation space which is a powerhouse for young people from across the continent to come together and co-develop practical solution ideas to grassroots challenges while pushing the needle of sustainable development on a global scale. Established in 2020, the innovation challenge calls upon participants to employ their design and complex thinking skills that solve problems in a measurable and qualitative manner. The COVID-19 pandemic left a debilitating imprint: according to the World Bank, COVID-19 has pushed nearly 40 million people into extreme poverty in Africa and harmed the economy and livelihoods in multiple ways. The force of innovation sets the engine of sustainable growth running, developing initiatives that build resilience, empower lesser privileged sections of the population, alleviate environmental stress, and so on. However, the Challenge emphasize collaboration and partnerships, in alignment with SDG 17 (Partnerships to achieve the goals), as a central axis around which their efforts are oriented. The Innovation Challenge converges young Africans with three main goals below:

To trigger fresh thinking by connecting innovators from diverse backgrounds and sectors.
To develop fresh, practical approaches to furthering SDG impact through cross-boundary collaboration.
To ignite trans-formative action towards sustainable development and improved livelihoods of communities across the African continent.

Eligibility for The SDG Innovation Challenge 2022 for young Africans:

Applicants must have passion, drive, and commitment to improving livelihoods in their community and beyond.
Applicants must have a genuine interest in sustainable development and desire to contribute to advancing the SDGs in their community and beyond.
Applicants must have the motivation to work in an agile hackathon-like environment, to engage pro-actively, and to ideate extensively throughout the event.
Applicants must desire to connect and collaborate with people from different domains and geographies.
Applicants must have the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.
Applicants must have the commitment to take the idea to completion and remain engaged with the cause post of the SDG Innovation Challenge.

Benefits of The SDG Innovation Challenge 2022 for young Africans:

Access to an unorthodox, dynamic, and diverse platform of youth activists, organizations, and legislators. Tap into a conducive online space to converge around practical SDG solutions.
A much needed opportunity to visualize and implement the SDGs at the grassroots level. Participate in the making of their future, and jumpstart their involvement in the sustainable development agenda as an active, passionate global citizen.
Immense networking potential. Build connections, and be part of a community of practice around eco-systemic, collaborative solutions.
A space to exercise your global citizenship muscle. Sharpen and hone skills in leadership, innovation, cross-sector collaboration, analytic thinking, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and allied areas.
Sourcing diversity of thought, background, and sector. Collaborate with people from a plethora of domains, be it engineering, design, civic policy, social justice reform, project management, finance, education, and so on.