We are on the look­out for Africa’s lead­ing inno­va­tors with solu­tions that align with the SDGs and aim to pow­er and light Africa, feed Africa, indus­tri­al­ize Africa, inte­grate Africa, and improve the qual­i­ty of life for Africa’s people. 

To be con­sid­ered for the Chal­lenge, appli­cants must be African-owned and ‑man­aged pri­vate com­pa­nies and orga­ni­za­tions (includ­ing non-prof­it and not-for-prof­it) reg­is­tered and oper­at­ing in any of the USADF coun­tries of oper­a­tions in Africa. Select­ed enter­pris­es will receive fund­ing in the form of grant cap­i­tal of up to $250,000.

Grants are intend­ed to reduce risk pri­or to invest­ment deci­sions. Grants can sup­port fea­si­bil­i­ty stud­ies, train­ing of local staff, guar­an­tee and risk pre­mi­um sub­si­dies in the long-term financ­ing of renew­able ener­gy projects, or lim­it­ed pilot fund­ing. The grant will cov­er up to 50% of the incurred project devel­op­ment costs and the appli­cant shall finance the remain­ing 50%. 

The Ash­den Award for Nat­ur­al Cli­mate Solu­tions will boost work in devel­op­ing coun­tries strength­en­ing the incomes, well­be­ing and secu­ri­ty of Indige­nous peo­ples and local com­mu­ni­ties – allow­ing them to act as guardians and restor­ers of their lands. Indige­nous peo­ple safe­guard 80% of the world’s remain­ing bio­di­ver­si­ty, but face dai­ly threats to their way of life. 

The Milken-Mot­sepe Inno­va­tion Awards Pro­gram is a series of mul­ti-year, mul­ti-mil­lion dol­lar com­pe­ti­tions and pro­grams to pro­mote tech­nol­o­gy solu­tions that accel­er­ate progress toward the UN Sus­tain­able Devel­op­ment Goals (SDGs), with a focus on Africa.