YOTA supports young innovators to drive change and contribute to post-pandemic recovery efforts through grassroots innovations and social action. This is to alleviate the negative consequences of the pandemic on young people and their communities while elevating the ideas, ingenuity, and creativity of young innovators working to address the effects of the global health crisis.
We are looking for the most talented young innovators from Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria to showcase their ideas and propose solutions for addressing the many challenges posed to the continent by the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to support youth innovation to advance inclusive and equitable post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Individuals or teams of young innovators in participating countries can participate in the Challenge by deploying the human-centred design approach to problem-solving in education and skills, youth employment and enterprises, health systems and treatment, vaccine equity, distribution, and uptake, among others. The best ideas or solutions from each participating country, as decided by our panel of judges and peers, will receive a mix of financial support, complete with expert advice, networking, tools, and other opportunities to enable them to implement their solutions.
WORTH
- Up to $5,000 USD of funding per project
- Business development advice from top experts in the field of innovation and human-centered design
- Access to carefully curated tools and resources to support the full cycle of youth-led innovation and human-centred design
- Opportunity to become part of a growing community of young African innovators for ongoing learning, sharing, and networking.
- Opportunity to be supported to showcase solutions across various international multi-stakeholder platforms, processes, and convenings before the end of 2022.
ELIGIBILITY
- An individual young person between the ages of 18 and 35; an informal group of young people, or a local youth- or women-led organization or company (both non-profit or for-profit are welcome); female candidates or teams with predominantly female members are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Nationals of Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria who are resident in their countries or based in the diaspora.
- Persons who are passionate about using their skills to design innovative solutions to promote addressing the many socio-economic challenges posed to your country by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Truly innovative and impactful ideas or solutions that have the potential to change lives in a sustainable way.
DEADLINE: July 29, 2022
To apply and for more information, visit here
