Applications are now open for the SafeTech Africa HackLab 2026, a Youth Social Innovation Challenge designed to support young African innovators, social entrepreneurs and digital rights advocates developing solutions for safer communities and digital spaces.

The initiative is organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme (SIARP 2.0), Global Programme to End Child Marriage, African Union Innovation Lab, UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women.

The call is open to young African innovators aged 18–35, including social entrepreneurs and digital rights advocates working on youth-led solutions.

Applicants are expected to develop original and practical innovations addressing challenges including technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), anti-rights narratives and online harm, as well as digital safety and censorship.

The challenge is structured around three themes.

Safe Physical & Community Spaces focuses on digital, mobile or civic technology that can strengthen protection and prevention efforts around child marriage, FGM and community-based gender-based violence. Proposed solutions could include SMS/USSD or app-based early-warning systems, referral platforms and youth-led community safety networks.

Safe Informational Spaces seeks solutions that give young people secure access to accurate and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information. Examples include youth-friendly chatbots, USSD platforms, digital learning hubs and confidential digital referral tools.

Safe Digital Spaces targets technology-facilitated violence, online harassment, anti-rights disinformation and digital censorship. Examples of possible innovations include digital self-defence platforms, encrypted reporting systems, privacy-preserving AI tools and media literacy solutions.

Four winners will receive between US$5,000 and US$10,000 each in seed capital. They will also receive pitch coaching and an opportunity to present their solutions at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit in November 2026.

Other benefits include market access and investor matchmaking opportunities, exposure to investors, venture funds and continental development partners, as well as continental visibility through UNFPA, Spotlight Initiative and African Union media channels.

Shortlisted innovators and teams will also receive virtual mentorship through the UNFPA Social Innovation Toolkit.

Applicants are required to submit team lead and member details, select one challenge theme, and provide a problem statement of no more than 200 words.

They must also submit an innovation description of no more than 700 words, a 12-month implementation roadmap outlining outputs and milestones, and a digital safety and inclusion note covering safeguarding, data privacy and accessibility.

The application deadline is 18 October 2026 at 23:59 CAT.

Applications should be submitted through the official online application portal.

Apply for SafeTech Africa HackLab 2026: Official application portal

Source: msmeafricaonline