The French Development Agency (AFD) continues to support high-impact digital players in Africa. It is for this purpose that it has just launched the 5th edition of the AFD Digital Challenge, a competition aimed at rewarding the most innovative African projects in terms of digital technology and the resolution of sustainable development goals in the continent. 

This year, the competition focuses on the theme “Innovating for the climate and biodiversity”. 

It thus aims to combine the challenge of digital transition with that of climate and biodiversity protection, in connection with Sustainable Development Goal 13 promoted by the UN.

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AFD Digital Challenge 2021 is therefore aimed at startups, associations and research centers on the continent that offer innovative solutions to reduce the carbon impact of economic activities, promote the sustainable, participatory and civic management of natural resources and promote a sustainable economic activity in line with environmental issues. The competition targets in particular projects which place digital technology at the heart of their solution and which have a viable economic model.

The jury made up of AFD experts will select precisely 10 projects that will benefit from an acceleration pack, made up of personalized technical support and a financial envelope worth 20,000 euros.

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Applicants have until May 26, the deadline, to submit their projects to https://www.afddigitalchallenge.afd.

The selections will be made in three phases. A first phase of examination of the application files validates the eligibility of the candidates and preselects 30 startups on the basis of an analysis of the projects, their innovative character, their economic model, their impact and their place in them. holds digital.

The second phase consists of an in-depth analysis by AFD’s experts of the pre-qualified projects. The third is the final selection of the jury composed of experts from AFD. The results will be announced on June 30, 2021. 

In the meantime, it will be recalled that the AFD Digital Challenge was launched in 2016. 

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In five editions, the competition received 2,500 applications from 45 countries and has already rewarded 35 projects sponsored by African startups, associations and research centers.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer