Apply for the UNICEF Innovation Fund

The UNICEF Innovation Fund is still open for Zambian creatives to submit their ideas for products/projects to get funded. UNICEF will fund up to US $100,000 investment-style funding to early-stage tech startups working on open-source technology solutions for children around the world.

The ideas should focus on these 3 areas:

1. Products for youth under 25 that address a range of needs including learning and youth participation. Emerging technologies can help overcome barriers that prevent young people from accessing information and services. The ability for young people to connect to each other and counsel each other also allows them to share and scale their own solutions.

2. Real-time information for decision-making: allows the situation of the most vulnerable to be understood by those who have an ability to address their circumstance. Real-time data can help identify where disparities are greatest, who is being reached, who is not using essential services, and why this is the case. Products that produce real-time information strengthen systems, improving monitoring, transparency, and accountability.

3. Infrastructure to increase access to services and information, including connectivity, power finance, sensors and transport. Access to information, particularly basic, life-enhancing information, is a human right. Innovation that builds and strengthens infrastructure to increase access to services and information, including connectivity, power, finance, sensors, and transport holds great promise to address existing challenges that negatively impact children.

UNICEF’s investment is responding to promote rapidly changing technologies such as blockchain, 3D printing, wearables and sensors, artificial intelligence and renewable energy.

If you have a great idea worth the funding, submit it here.