The emergence and subsequent resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic have unveiled gaps in the public health sector in many African countries according to one Human Rights Watch report.

This claim underscores the urgent need to address the existing challenges in the continent’s healthcare system as well as strengthen the sector. One way to achieve these is by accelerating health financing reforms in Africa to increase budgets and efficiency.

In addition, programs and initiatives could be launched to identify and support innovative solutions that will boost the health care system; an example of this is the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award.

About the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award

The first edition of this award is launched to spotlight and support the work of trailblazing young entrepreneurs creating innovative health solutions. Also, it is geared towards supporting innovations that can make a real impact on healthcare workers.

Africa Young Innovators for Health Award seeks to encourage business entrepreneurship and improve promising health care solutions, empowering healthcare workers, including those taking the lead in offering healthcare services to communities.

Requirements

To qualify for the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award 2021, interested applicants must:

Be between ages 18 and 35 at the time of applying for the program
Be a citizen of an African country
Have commercially viable solutions
Successful applicants will be required to demonstrate that their inventive healthcare solution is scalable, measurable, and create a lasting impact on healthcare workers.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

(a) Innovation. The submission must show, first and foremost, an innovative character this means it must break new ground and meet a challenge in its city, region, or country.

The applicant must show the innovation be scaled up and used in a wider region of the country, neighboring countries, or across the continent.

(b) Impact. It must show a measurable and sustainable impact on health. It will be important to show not only that it supports, equips, protects, and trains healthcare workers but that this is measurable and can be maintained, and is therefore sustainable.

(c) Commercial viability. The innovation must be commercially viable, so they have to see that it is a business proposition, that it can compete effectively with its competitors and make a profit.

Benefits

Winners of the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award will receive:

A 3-month Business mentorship program from leading entrepreneurs;
Technical support with Intellectual Property protection, if necessary;
Exposure and recognition from global healthcare leaders and the public;
Funding capital worth a total of $75,000 (First prize of $40,000, Second prize of $20,000, Third prize of $15,000).

How to apply

Click here to apply for the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award
Upon submission of the application form, you’d receive a confirmation email
Check your email and spam folder. If you do not receive this confirmation email, contact [email protected]

Deadline

Applications close on Wednesday, March 31, 2021. For more information on the award, click here.

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