The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)’s Call for MSME-led Digital Solutions

Published August 4, 2022 · Updated August 4, 2022

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), announces this Call for Digital Solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This call is part of an MSME support programme within the Economic Integration division of AUDA-NEPAD supported by the GIZ Programme Green Infrastructure Corridor for Intra-Africa Trade (PIDA). The programme is part of AUDA-NEPAD’s umbrella programme 100,000 MSMEs Initiative.

The Program focuses on developing MSMEs in the green infrastructure and trade domains.

This Call for Digital Solutions is looking for MSMEs that provide digital solutions which support trade and/or green infrastructure. Through this call, we are looking to provide business development support to MSMEs in the green infrastructure and trade sectors. If your business is looking for support to launch or scale a digital solution for green infrastructure and/or trade, please consider applying.

NOTE: This is not financial support. AUDA-NEPAD will not provide any direct funding to the successful applicants.

ELIGIBILITY

To have your application considered, your business/project will have to meet the criteria in the table below:

Youth and Women-led MSMEs are strongly encouraged to apply.

At least be an early-stage business	Be registered as a for-profit entity. Applications from Non-profit organizations (NPOs) / non-governmental organizations (NGOs) / non-profit company (NPCs) will not be considered. Must have a team of at least three (3) people. Proof of concept must have been established either by the MSME’s pilot or by similar, pre-existing projects elsewhere.
Your business idea must have a digital / tech focus	Digital / tech must be central to the business strategy/value proposition.
You focus on trade and/or green infrastructure	Your digital solution must address at least one of the two below (the digital solution can address both): The digital solution must have a demonstrable climate change adaptation (increasing resilience) or mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) impact; or the digital solution must a beneficial environmental impact (e.g., clearing invasive species, reducing plastic waste, repurposing hazardous waste). The digital solution must be able to demonstrate its impact on trade and/or trade-related activities esp. across national border (within a country is acceptable).
You must be African	Be based in (i.e., registered) an African Union Member State. The business must be Africa-focused i.e., it has its largest market (>75% turnover) and employment base (>75% of personnel) in Africa.