AU Go Gal! Innovation Initiative for Young African Women

📖 About the Initiative

The African Union “AU Go Gal!” Innovation Initiative is a NextGen challenge targeting young African women aged 15–25 in innovation. This initiative aims to empower 20 young African women innovators to develop digital and other innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions to key socioeconomic challenges facing the continent. It contributes to Africa's transformative growth under Agenda 2063.

The solutions should focus on advancing Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion, including innovations that enhance young women’s participation in economic decision-making processes and improve access, retention, and completion of girls in education systems.

Selected participants will be linked to mentors and industry leaders throughout their innovation journey, with 5 finalists receiving support and recognition.

🎯 Objectives

1. Empower young women in innovation by offering a platform for active involvement in the innovation space, addressing gender disparity in innovation and technology.
2. Enable young women to contribute to Africa's socioeconomic development through scalable and sustainable solutions.
3. Connect young women to mentorship and industry leaders for capacity building and career opportunities.
4. Demonstrate young women’s potential to contribute to Africa’s socioeconomic development through innovation.
5. Converge multi-stakeholder efforts to actively promote and sustain the involvement of women in the innovation space and technology ecosystem.

🎁 Benefits

• Enhancing young women’s participation in economic decision-making processes.
• Improving access, retention, and completion of girls in education systems.
• Selected participants will be linked to mentors and industry leaders throughout their innovation journey.
• 5 finalists will receive support and recognition.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Participants must be young African women aged 15–25.
• Languages: Proficiency in English and French.
• Citizenship: Participants must be citizens of an African Union member state, residing on the continent.
• Digital or Innovative Idea: Applicants should present an original, practical, and scalable solution addressing a pressing community, regional, or continental challenge. Innovations should focus on Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion or girls and women’s education.
• Feasibility and Impact: The idea should demonstrate clear potential for solving real-world problems in Africa, with a focus on sustainability, scalability, and community impact.
• Stage of Innovation: Ideas at all stages (conceptual, prototype, or tested) are eligible.
• Commitment to Community and Societal Impact: Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to solving problems that benefit the community, especially underserved or marginalized populations.
• Potential for Scaling and Sustainability: Evidence that the innovation can be expanded or adapted for other regions or countries, with a plan for long-term sustainability.
• Educational Background & Technical Competence: Applicants should demonstrate the ability to actualize their solutions, with relevant education, self-learning, or experiential learning in innovation-related fields.
• Availability: Commitment to fully participate in training, mentorship, networking events, and other activities under the initiative.
• Communication and Presentation Skills: Ability to present and communicate the innovation, its potential impact, and long-term vision effectively.

📅 Application Date and Process

• Application Deadline: 30 June, 2025
• Apply here.

🌐 Additional Information

For more details, visit the AU Go Gal! Innovation Initiative Portal.

🏢 Sponsor Organisation

The initiative is sponsored by the African Union.

This opportunity is a unique chance for young African women to showcase their innovative potential and contribute to the continent's development. Don't miss out!

• Enhancing young women’s participation in economic decision-making processes.
• Improving access, retention, and completion of girls in education systems.
• The selected participants will be linked to mentors and industry throughout their innovation journey.
• 5 finalists will receive support and recognition.