African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Innovation Challenge 2026 | Apply Now
As Africa advances the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is excited to launch the second edition of the AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge.
The challenge seeks to identify, nurture, and showcase innovative digital solutions—particularly those developed by women and young entrepreneurs—that advance the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.
The inaugural AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge demonstrated the important role of the programme in cultivating a new generation of African innovators whose solutions contribute to strengthening intra-African trade and advancing the realization of a seamless, inclusive, and integrated African Digital Market.
Theme: Shaping Africa’s Future Through African Solutions
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Who Can Apply?
The challenge is open to:
- Individuals, teams, startups, and enterprises from an African Union Member State.
- African innovators and entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years old.
- Applicants who can demonstrate how their proposed digital solution addresses existing barriers to cross-border trade and contributes to the implementation of the AfCFTA.
- Applicants with digital innovations that are already at the operational-to-scaling stage.
Criteria for Operational-to-Scaling Solutions
Applicants should submit operational digital solutions that demonstrate significant impact on intra-African trade and are ready to scale across the continent based on the following criteria:
- Proven Impact: Evidence that the solution effectively facilitates cross-border trade and provides tangible benefits to Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) within the AfCFTA framework.
- Relevance to AfCFTA Objectives: The solution should align with the goals of the AfCFTA, particularly through the use of digital technologies to facilitate the cross-border trade of goods and services for MSMEs.
- Operational Excellence: The solution should demonstrate technological robustness, a positive user experience, and reliable backend support to ensure operational stability.
- Scalability and Expansion Potential: Applicants should demonstrate clear strategies and capabilities for expanding into new markets, including the ability to adapt to different regulatory environments and trade ecosystems.
- Digital Innovation: The solution should integrate—or demonstrate strong potential to integrate—advanced digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and other emerging technologies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of trade facilitation.
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Top 50 Shortlisted Innovators
The Top 50 shortlisted innovators will receive foundational support designed to strengthen their knowledge, expand their professional networks, and increase the visibility of their innovations through:
- Participation in AfCFTA Secretariat-led capacity-building programmes on digital trade.
- Access to networking and collaboration opportunities within Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
- Inclusion in the AfCFTA innovation community.
Top 10 Winners
The Top 10 winners will receive targeted business development support to accelerate the commercialisation and scaling of their innovations, including:
- Enrollment in a tailored incubation or acceleration programme.
- Opportunities to showcase their innovations to prospective investors, strategic partners, customers, and other ecosystem stakeholders.
- Featured promotion through AfCFTA communication platforms, digital channels, and flagship events.
- Priority access to participate in AfCFTA platforms aligned with their innovations.
Top 5 Grand Winners
The Top 5 Grand Winners will receive the Challenge’s highest level of recognition and strategic support, including:
- Formal recognition and unveiling during a high-level AfCFTA Forum.
- An exclusive engagement session with H.E. the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat to discuss their innovations and explore opportunities for collaboration.
- Tailored mentorship from industry leaders and access to business development advisory services.
- Designation as AfCFTA Digital Innovation Champions, serving as ambassadors for the AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge.
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Why Participate?
Participating in the AfCFTA Digital Innovation Challenge provides an opportunity to:
- Showcase your innovation as a solution contributing to the realization of a single African digital market.
- Gain mentorship, skills, and capacity-building support from relevant experts to scale your innovation.
- Unlock investment and partnership opportunities through platforms organized or co-hosted by the AfCFTA Secretariat and its partners.
- Build valuable connections and network with key stakeholders across Africa’s digital trade ecosystem.
- Increase the visibility and potential impact of your digital solution across the continent.
Application Deadline: 4 September 2026