Youth Social Innovation Challenge ’26: SafeTech Africa HackLab

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA ESARO and WCARO), in partnership with the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP 2.0), the Global Programme to End Child Marriage, the African Union Innovation Lab, UNDP, UNICEF, and UN Women, invites young innovators, social entrepreneurs, and digital rights advocates across Africa to apply for the Youth Social Innovation Challenge: SafeTech Africa HackLab ’26. The challenge aims to identify, incubate, fund, and scale youth-led digital and community solutions designed to counter technology-facilitated violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and gender-based violence. The initiative focuses on three priority themes: Safe Physical & Community Spaces, Safe Informational Spaces, and Safe Digital Spaces. Eligible applicants are youth aged 18 to 35 in teams of 2 to 5 members residing in Eastern, Southern, Western, or Central Africa. Four winners will be selected to receive seed grants ranging between USD 5,000 and USD 10,000 each, alongside virtual mentorship through the UNFPA Social Innovation Toolkit, pitch coaching, and an opportunity to pitch live at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit in November 2026.

Eligible teams of 2 to 5 young innovators must submit their online application and solution details before October 18, 2026, at 23:59 CAT through the official call portal.