UNECA Continental Call for African AI Innovations 2026

UNECA Continental Call for African AI Innovations 2026

Applications are open for the 2026 UNECA Continental Call for African AI Innovations, organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) through the Africa IGF Secretariat, in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Research ICT Africa (RIA). The call invites African innovators building practical, AI-enabled solutions to the continent's development challenges in health, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, climate action, trade, and public-service delivery. Selected solutions will be showcased at the ECA Innovation Café during the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum in Accra, Ghana, from 2 to 5 November 2026. The initiative connects innovators directly with policymakers, investors, development partners, researchers, and the technical community, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Open to startups, universities, research institutions, innovation hubs, private and public organisations, social enterprises, and individual innovators with a functioning prototype, pilot, or deployed solution.

Overview

Item	Details
Programme	UNECA Continental Call for African AI Innovations 2026
Organiser	UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), via the Africa IGF Secretariat
Partners	International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Research ICT Africa (RIA)
Event	ECA Innovation Café, 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AIGF 2026)
Location	Accra, Ghana
Dates	2–5 November 2026
Application deadline	Unspecified

About the Call

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, through the Africa IGF Secretariat and in partnership with the ITU and Research ICT Africa, is inviting African innovators developing practical, AI-enabled solutions that address the continent's development priorities.

Across Africa, startups, universities, research institutions, technology hubs, public institutions, private-sector organisations, and individual innovators are building technologies rooted in local realities. These solutions are already being applied in health, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, climate action, public-service delivery, trade, and small-business development.

The ECA Innovation Café will spotlight African-led AI solutions already contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union's Agenda 2063. It aims to bridge innovation, policy, and implementation by connecting innovators directly with policymakers, development partners, investors, researchers, private-sector actors, and the technical community. This focus on turning ideas into scaled impact echoes other pan-African platforms such as the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship.

Who Can Apply

The call is open to:

• African startups and technology companies
• Universities and research institutions
• Innovation hubs and laboratories
• Private-sector organisations
• Public institutions and public-sector innovation teams
• Social enterprises
• Individual innovators and innovation teams

Applicants should demonstrate a functioning prototype, pilot, or deployed solution, backed by evidence of development impact or credible potential to generate meaningful impact.

For African changemakers working specifically on connectivity and digital governance, the Internet Society Fellowship Program offers a complementary path into the global internet community.

Eligible Project Areas

• Artificial intelligence and digital technology
• Healthcare and health systems
• Agriculture and food systems
• Education and skills development
• Financial inclusion
• Climate action and environmental solutions
• Public-sector and government service delivery
• Trade and economic development
• Small and medium-sized business development

Event and Networking

Selected innovators will present at the ECA Innovation Café during the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum in Accra, Ghana, from 2 to 5 November 2026. The forum provides direct engagement with decision-makers and funders across the continent, a launchpad comparable to leadership programmes like the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship for young Africans.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the official webpage. Interested innovators should review the full requirements and submit their solution online.

Official page: https://igf.africa/ecainnovationcafe/