Work in Progress! Alliance calls application for Youth-led Innovation Challenge in Nigeria.

The Work in Progress! Alliance is an initiative that seeks to enable young people from diverse backgrounds to generate sustainable living wages and create optimism about their future in Egypt, Nigeria, and Somalia. Sponsored by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Alliance consists of Oxfam Novib, Venture Capital for Africa, Butterfly Works, and a number of national partners in our project countries.

Through this innovation challenge, The Work in Progress! project aims to support and learn from youth-initiated innovative action that addresses a common challenge across all three project countries. Successful project experiences and lessons learned will be shared through the Work in Progress! and Oxfam networks.

Awards

Work in Progress! Alliance Youth-led Innovation Challenge will provide two €10,000 awards in each country. In addition to that, the winners of the Challenge will be eligible for technical support from our partners including the possibility of mentorship from Innovation Challenge participants in the other project countries. The award is meant to assist each winner to develop, implement, and put in full operation an innovative solution to help alleviate their community or business from the impact of the Coronavirus.

Eligibility criteria

• The principal applicant should be under 35 years of age. Preference will be given to female-led innovators.
• In the case of a startup or SME, the applicant must be a registered company in Egypt, Nigeria, or Somaliland.
• The applicant confirms that the individual or company is not in any way involved in activities such as arms, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling industries, registered in so-called tax-havens, or involved in environmental or human rights abuses or corruption.
• The proposed innovation project can be implemented in the period of Oct 2020 – Feb 2021.

Selection Criteria

• Creative COVID-19 related solution (25%)
• Viability of proposal (25%)
• Strength of team/entrepreneur (25%)
• Potential for Sustainability (25%)

Selection Process

Work in Progress! Alliance Youth-led Innovation Challenge is for young people, startups, and small businesses registered in Egypt, Nigeria, and Somaliland. Candidates will apply online by completing an application form (below), elaborating plans for the innovation project, presenting a proof of concept and budget. A panel of judges will review and score all applications and invite the best applicants to pitch their ideas and proposals through a virtual presentation. The panel will then select two winners (per country).

Planning

• The deadline for applications is 24 September 2020.
• Applicants will be invited to present their pitches after the shortlisting is done by the judges.
• Winners will be notified shortly thereafter, following which grant contracts will be processed.
  The innovation projects will be implemented from October 2020 – February 2021.

More Information