The Innovate Africa Challenge (3rd Edition) is a continental initiative jointly organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Smart Africa Secretariat. The 2026 edition is themed “From Ideation to Deployment” and focuses on moving proven AI innovations beyond pilot stage into practical deployment within African agricultural systems.

The Challenge seeks to identify, support and deploy one proven AI-driven solution for Climate-Smart Agriculture within a Smart Africa Member State. The selected solution will be implemented in partnership with:

The 2026 South Africa MedTech Innovation Challenge is designed to identify and support innovative technologies that can modernise healthcare delivery through the integration of smart devices, artificial intelligence (AI) and digitally connected clinical workflows. The Challenge focuses specifically on transforming mechanical, analogue and legacy diagnostic, therapeutic and assistive systems into more intelligent, connected and accessible healthcare solutions.

Innovate UK, on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Cancer Healthcare Goals programme, is making up to £25.4 million available through a competitive grant funding competition to support the clinical validation and evaluation of innovative technologies and devices for the earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer.

A leading global company is inviting established South African ICT businesses to participate in a targeted business development programme delivered by Aurik Enterprise Development. The programme is designed for businesses that have moved beyond the early start-up stage and are looking to strengthen their business capabilities, improve operational performance and prepare for sustainable growth.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), through the Promoting Value Chains for Critical Raw Materials and Green Hydrogen and Derivatives in South Africa (H2.SA II / BVC) project, is inviting qualified service providers to develop a comprehensive and practical Handbook on Circular Economy in Green Hydrogen Value Chains.

Opportunity Type: Awards / Competition / Startup Development / Acceleration
Geographic Scope: ECOWAS Member States
Application Deadline: 31 August 2026

Opportunity Overview

The 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards is a regional initiative of the ECOWAS Commission designed to identify, recognise and support high-impact startups contributing to digital transformation, regional economic integration and sustainable value-chain development across West Africa.

Shine 2027 is an early-stage climate innovation programme by the Swiss Re Foundation, in partnership with Climate KIC, designed to help social entrepreneurs develop and scale solutions that address urban climate challenges.

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has opened its 2026 Call for Expressions of Project Intentions (AMI) under the CSO Initiatives (CSO-I) mechanism, inviting civil society organisations (CSOs) to submit project intentions for initiatives to be co-financed in 2027.