Applications are now open for the Changemakers Innovation Challenge, which supports community non-profits and social enterprises that leverage technology and digital tools to create social change within their communities in Africa.
Implemented by the ACT Foundation, the challenge works with forward-thinking organizations and innovators to create lasting impact in different areas, including mobile healthcare, farm automation, telemedicine, ed-tech microfinance, and beyond.
Funding
- The top four winners of the Changemakers Innovation Challenge will receive grant funding to scale their solutions across different communities.
- Technical support in the form of software, hardware, or capacity-building training will also be provided to selected finalists.
Application requirements
- Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations with tech-powered social impact interventions in their communities are welcome to enter the challenge.
- Applicants must be residents and citizens of any African country.
- The initiative must be led by a youth aged between 18 and 25 years.
- Ideas to be submitted should be those that focus on social innovations, addressing challenges that align with at least one of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The solution must be technology-driven or demonstrate a strong integration of technology
- Past winners of the challenge cannot apply
- The intervention with which applicants apply must have been tested or implemented on direct beneficiaries. Evidence of claim must be provided through pictures, videos, news releases, etc.
Evaluation conditions
- Innovation and creativity (30%): This looks at the originality of the proposed intervention.
- technological application (20%): This considers the effective integration of technology to drive social change.
- Impact (20%): The evidence of impact is required here, expressed in quantitative data (number of beneficiaries).
- Scalability/Sustainability (15%): What are indications that the intervention will be sustained in the future?
- Clarity of vision and leadership (15%): Demonstrated leadership and clarity of purpose.
How and when to apply
The application deadline is August 22, 2025. Click HERE to begin.
The Changemakers Innovation Challenge, implemented by the ACT Foundation, is open to community non-profits and social enterprises in Africa that harness technology and digital tools to drive social change.
The challenge focuses on sectors like mobile healthcare, farm automation, telemedicine, education technology, and microfinance.
The top four winners will receive grants and technical support, including software, hardware, or capacity-building training, to extend their solutions across communities.
Eligible participants must be African citizens aged 18-25, with tech-driven social innovations aligned with Sustainable Development Goals. Past winners are not eligible.
Proposals should have evidence of prior implementation or impact, supported by documentation such as pictures, videos, or news releases. Evaluation criteria include innovation and creativity (30%), technological integration (20%), impact (20%), scalability/sustainability (15%), and leadership and clarity of vision (15%).
The application deadline is August 22, 2025, and applicants can begin the process online.
