Applications are now open for The Youth Adaptation Solutions (YouthADAPT) Challenge 2023. Here’s how to apply:
Application Deadline: November 5th 2023
The African Development Bank Group and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) are jointly implementing a strategic partnership program, the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), aimed at mobilizing $25 billion to scale up and accelerate climate change adaptation actions across Africa.
One of the four flagships under this program is the YouthAdapt: Empowering Youth for Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in Climate Adaptation and Resilience. Under the YouthADAPT program, AAAP is scaling up youth innovations for climate action through the Africa Youth Adaptation #YouthADAPT Challenge
This cohort targets only female-owned enterprises working on Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies and innovations for climate adaptation action in Africa and addressing gender inequality in their solutions.
Examples of 4IR technologies include artificial intelligence, big data analytics, virtual reality, robotics, the Internet of Things, quantum computing technologies, additive manufacturing blockchain, and Fifth-generation wireless.
These should be solutions being implemented in real-life on-the-ground climate situations in Africa. This call for applications is supported by funds from the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF) hosted by the African Development Bank.
Eligibility Requirements
- Age – The entrepreneur must be between the ages of 18 to 35.
- Citizenship of founder – The founder must be of African nationality or the founder must be playing an active role in the operations of the enterprise.
- Geography and legal registration of the company – The business must be legally registered in Africa.
- Profitability – The business must have generated profits for the last two years.
- Impact/ Climate adaptation – The business must demonstrate a direct impact on climate adaptation and resilience.
- Gender Only female-owned enterprises are eligible – 51% of shareholding should be female.
- Industry – Must be within the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies.
Benefits
Selected female applicants stand to benefit from:
- Grants of up to USD 100,000 per enterprise to support their business growth plans.
- Participate in a 1-year accelerator program designed to empower the selected young entrepreneurs and their teams with tailored business development skills, mentorship, training and resources to scale-up climate adaptation innovations and boost the creation of green jobs.
- Expanding partnership, knowledge sharing, exchange and learning through a network of youth entrepreneurs in Africa.
- Tailored business development services to elevate your climate solutions and generate green jobs.
- Join the YouthADAPT Alumni Network
The selected female youth-owned enterprises will be equipped with tailored business development skills, mentorship, training, and resources to scale up climate adaptation innovations and boost the creation of green jobs.
This support will help the enterprises to build their institutional capacity, position themselves to effectively utilize grants offered and to also mobilize additional private capital, scale up climate adaptation action at the grassroots level and create employment opportunities across Africa. They will also access training workshops tailored to provide practical skills in entrepreneurship and climate adaptation mainstreaming.
Additional support will be provided to these youth entrepreneurs through professional mentorship to enable them to execute their business growth plans, create jobs, and support the Africa continental effort towards climate resilience.
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