Closing Date: 31 August 2024
Call for Applications : Melton Foundation 2024 SDG Innovation Challenge
Are you passionate about sustainable development and social impact in your community and beyond? Are you a student, professional, activist, change-maker, entrepreneur, etc. and interested in making a difference on the African continent and in the world? Do you form part of a youth innovation startup/project team based anywhere across Africa, and look to pivot your SDG impact?
If your answer is YES, you’ve come to the right place!
Overview
Designed as a virtual, pan-African innovation space, the SDG Innovation Challenge is a powerhouse for young Africans (16 – 35 years) to develop cross-boundary, sustainable solutions to grassroots challenges that further social impact and contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Innovation is a force that sets the engine of sustainable development running, uncovering initiatives that build resilience, contribute to more equitable resource distribution, further inclusion, alleviate environmental stress, and so on! Moreover, and in alignment with SDG 17 (Partnerships For The Goals), it emphasize collaboration and partnerships as a central axis around which its efforts are oriented!In collaboration with the Global Goals Week (20 -29 September 2024), the SDG INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2024 supports the annual week of action, awareness, and accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals, promising to join hands with local, regional, and global partners to nurture fresh thinking and supercharge sustainable, inclusive solutions for people and the planet.
Under the theme Bridging Social Innovation Gaps: Propelling Youth-led Innovations for Sustainable Development the Innovation Challenge 2024 converges young talent with three primary goals:
- To trigger fresh thinking by connecting innovators from diverse backgrounds and sectors.
- To develop practical, impact-oriented startups/projects through cross-boundary collaboration.
- To ignite transformative change towards sustainable development and improved livelihoods of communities across Africa.
Why Participate?
The SDG Innovation Challenge is a forum for motivated youth-led startups and project teams from across the African continent to ideate, develop, and incubate practical innovations that further the sustainable development of their local communities. Committed teams have the opportunity to undergo a 2-month Mentoring and Incubation phase in preparation for the main pitching competition after which an award ceremony will be held for the best and most improved teams in December 2024. The best-evaluated teams will compete for the prestigious Award Winning Package which includes various cash prizes to support the winning projects, mentoring support and recognition.
In addition, successful innovation teams unlock continued support in the form of digital literacy tools for startup upscale, business modeling and business registration, recommendations to investment match-making opportunities, access to business incubation, pro-bono mentorship, and more. Plus, there is the opportunity for the most transformative initiatives to showcase their initiative at the next African Youth SDGs Summit, Africa’s biggest Sustainable Development Youth congregation.
There are numerous reasons to participate; here are a few of them:
- 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 our future and jumpstart your involvement in the sustainable development agenda as a responsible, impact-oriented social entrepreneur.
- 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 many different domains, including engineering, design, civic policy, social justice reform, project management, finance, education, and many others.
- Activate resources to further the SDG impact of your startup/project – unlock tangible and intangible perks, including global visibility, prize money, tailored support, access to high-impact network(s), and more.
How to Participate
To participate virtually on 12-14 September, you must register by 31 August, 2024 before 11:59 PM GMT.
Eligibility
Open to participation from young people across Africa, the Challenge is an opportunity for social innovators and entrepreneurs to contribute to sustainable development in their communities and change the world, one project at a time!
To be considered for the SDG Innovation Challenge 2024, Melton Foundation look for innovation teams (4 – 7 participants) with early-stage startups/projects. Individual applications or randomly formed teams will NOT be considered for participation.
Here is what you need to keep in mind when considering to apply!
All startups/projects should:
- Have a connection to the theme Bridging Social Innovation Gaps: Propelling Youth-led Innovations for Sustainable Development
- Connect to one or more Focus Areas
- Have clarity about how they contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Be in an early stage of project development (0.5 – 2 years)
- Have initial evidence of impact and potential to scale
- Target a specific community or location in Africa
- Be socio-economically viable, entrepreneurial, and/or scalable in their approach
- Contribute to change of mindset and behavior in their community
- Contribute to creating a more inclusive society
- Should further decent work, digital transformation, partnerships, and collaborations.
Focus Areas:
- Energy & Carbon Reduction
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)
- Health & Wellbeing
- Food & Nutrition (Agriculture)
- Education
Applicants must:
- Share a passion, drive, and commitment to improving livelihoods in their community.
- Have a genuine interest in sustainable development and a desire to contribute to the SDGs at the grassroots level and beyond.
- Be able to work with team from different domains, cultures, and geographies.
- Have the motivation to work in an agile hackathon-like environment to pivot their startup/project.
- Have curiosity, open-mindedness & desire to reimagine how we tackle SDGs.
- Have a 0.5 – 2 years old project and belong to a youth-led startup or project team (4-7 people)
- Commit to the innovation process and be eager to develop and/or rethink their startup/project for more sustainable impact
- Ensure that their schedule allows for full participation throughout the different phases of the Challenge.
- Have access to a laptop/desktop computer and stable internet connectivity. (Basic knowledge of G-suite & eagerness to explore new technologies is recommended, too.)
Click Here To Apply
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