SDG Innovation Challenge 2022

Published September 2, 2022 · Updated September 2, 2022

Designed as a virtual, pan-African ideation space, the SDG Innovation Challenge is a powerhouse for young people from across the continent to come together and co-develop practical solution ideas to grassroots challenges while pushing the needle of sustainable development on a global scale.

The innovation challenge calls upon participants to employ their design and complex thinking skills that solve problems in a measurable and qualitative manner. The COVID-19 pandemic left a debilitating imprint: according to the World Bank, COVID-19 has pushed nearly 40 million people into extreme poverty in Africa and harmed the economy and livelihoods in multiple ways.

The force of innovation sets the engine of sustainable growth running, developing initiatives that build resilience, empower lesser privileged sections of the population, alleviate environmental stress, and so on! Moreover, we emphasize collaboration and partnerships, in alignment with SDG 17 (Partnerships to achieve the goals), as a central axis around which our efforts are oriented!

With this background, we present the SDG Innovation Challenge 2022, which builds upon its precedents to create a bigger space for expanded outreach and wider horizons! Under the theme Transformative Solutions against Global Challenges – Accountability in Leveraging Youth Action to Create and Empower, the SDG Innovation Challenge converges young talent with three primary goals:

To trigger fresh thinking by connecting innovators from diverse backgrounds and sectors.
To develop fresh, practical approaches to furthering SDG impact through cross-boundary collaboration.
To ignite transformative action towards sustainable development and improved livelihoods of communities across Africa.

A connection to this year’s challenge theme: Transformative Solutions against Global Challenges – Accountability in Leveraging Youth Action to Create and Empower.

Requirements

The SDG Innovation Challenge is open to young, pan-African social innovators and entrepreneurs.
Passion, drive, and commitment to improving livelihoods in your community and beyond
A genuine interest in sustainable development and desire to contribute to advancing the SDGs in your community and beyond
The motivation to work in an agile hackathon-like environment, to engage pro-actively, and to ideate extensively throughout the event.
Desire to connect and collaborate with people from different domains and geographies.
The ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
The commitment to take the idea to completion and remain engaged with the cause post the SDG Innovation Challenge

Why Participate
The SDG Innovation Challenge is where motivated young Africans come together to co-develop practical innovations that further sustainable development of their local communities. There are numerous reasons to participate; here are a few of them:

Access to an unorthodox, dynamic, and diverse platform of youth activists, organizations, and legislators
A much-needed opportunity to visualize and implement the SDGs at the grassroots level
Immense networking potential
A space to exercise your global citizenship muscle
Sourcing diversity of thought, background, and sector

How to Participate