Fully Funded UN SDG Youth Conference focus on Youth – Especially Women and Girls: Africa Youth Conference 2018 Young people have the potential to act as agents of change and are significantly contributing to sustainable development globally and in Africa. Their innovations are making a difference in Africa, but their stories are yet to be heard. This Challenge invites African youth entrepreneurs to step forward to help realize the Goals of Africa: We call on young people, especially women and girls, to present us with their innovations for SDG attainment in their communities and countries across Africa. Areas of particular relevance for this Challenge include youth access to sustainable livelihoods, youth engagement in governance / political participation, leadership and decision making, as well as youth action in preventing violence and other harmful practices against young
women and girls.

Award

Winning entries will receive funding to develop, validate and scale innovative ideas. The grants will be awarded to entrepreneurs who would like to test their innovative solutions or
grow existing ventures, as per the following categories:

• Idea Stage: 5,000 USD (seed grants)
• Growth Stage: 10,000 USD (scale grants)

Eligibility

• Are you African, aged between 15 and 35 years?
• Do you have an innovative, replicable, scalable idea that could transform your community, country… or even Africa?
• Would you like to contribute towards the attainment of the SDGs and therein especially gender-related targets and indicators of SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 5 (gender equality and empowerment of women and girls), SDG 8 (decent employment) and SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure)?
• Do you have the passion to help Africa progress – but struggle to find the support you need to turn your idea into reality?

How to Apply?

To apply for the Challenge and stand a chance to win grant funding to pursue your entrepreneurship venture and/or profile your innovative idea/solution, fill and submit the form. In addition to your written response, we encourage you to make multimedia submissions. This can include a short video (which can be recorded using a phone) narrating in a summary form your initiative or high-resolution action photographs of the solution.