Applications are open for the UNECA Continental Call for African AI Innovations. The call invites African innovators developing practical, AI-enabled solutions that address development challenges across the continent. Selected innovations will be showcased through the ECA Innovation Café at the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026), taking place from November 2 to 5, 2026, in Accra, Ghana. Applications close on October 2, 2026.
About the ECA Innovation Café
• Organiser: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through the Africa IGF Secretariat.
• Collaborating partners: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Research ICT Africa (RIA).
• Purpose: Showcase African-led AI-enabled solutions addressing development challenges and create direct engagement between innovators and relevant stakeholders.
• The initiative connects innovators with policymakers, development partners, investors, researchers, private-sector actors and members of the technical community.
• Selected innovations will participate through two components: the Innovation-to-Policy Exchange and the Innovation Exhibition during AfIGF 2026.
Who Can Apply?
• 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 may work across different sectors, provided their AI-enabled solution addresses a development challenge relevant to Africa.
What Type of AI Solutions Are Eligible?
• Practical, AI-enabled solutions addressing development challenges in Africa.
• Solutions may be applied in areas such as health, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, climate action, public-service delivery, trade and small-business development.
• These areas are examples rather than an exhaustive list. Solutions addressing other relevant African development priorities may also be eligible.
• Applicants must have progressed beyond the idea stage and demonstrate a functioning prototype, pilot or deployed solution.
Prototype or Working Solution Required
• Applicants must demonstrate a functioning prototype, pilot or deployed solution.
• Idea-only concepts without a functioning solution are not eligible under the stated requirements.
• Applications should provide evidence of development impact or credible potential to generate meaningful impact.
• Applicants should be able to explain the development challenge being addressed, how the solution works and the progress achieved in developing, testing, piloting or deploying it.
What Will Selected Innovators Get?
• An opportunity to showcase their AI-enabled solutions at the ECA Innovation Café during AfIGF 2026.
• An opportunity to present solutions to policymakers and other key stakeholders.
• Direct engagement with development partners, investors, researchers, private-sector actors and the technical community.
• Participation in the Innovation Exhibition during AfIGF 2026.
• Opportunities to discuss barriers affecting responsible deployment, adoption and scale.
• Exposure to stakeholders involved in policy, investment, research, technology and implementation.
• The official call does not state that selected applicants will receive direct funding, grants or cash prizes.
Innovation-to-Policy Exchange
• Selected innovators will have the opportunity to present their solutions and engage directly with policymakers, development partners, investors, researchers, private-sector representatives and members of the technical community.
• Discussions will focus on the results innovations are achieving, challenges affecting implementation and the support and enabling conditions required for responsible deployment, wider adoption and sustainable scale.
Innovation Exhibition
• Selected innovations will be showcased through an Innovation Exhibition during AfIGF 2026.
• The exhibition will provide innovators with a platform to demonstrate their solutions and engage with participants attending the continental Internet governance forum.
How to Apply
• Interested applicants should complete the official online application form linked from the ECA Innovation Café call page.
• Applicants should provide information about their AI-enabled solution, the development challenge it addresses and evidence of its development, impact or credible potential for impact.
• Application page: https://igf.africa/ecainnovationcafe/
Application Deadline
• The deadline for applications is October 2, 2026.
• Selected innovations will be showcased at the ECA Innovation Café during AfIGF 2026 in Accra, Ghana, from November 2 to 5, 2026.
Key Details
• Opportunity: UNECA Continental Call for African AI Innovations
• Programme: ECA Innovation Café
• Organiser: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through the Africa IGF Secretariat
• Collaborating partners: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Research ICT Africa (RIA)
• Who can apply: African startups and technology companies, universities, research institutions, innovation hubs and laboratories, private-sector organisations, public institutions and public-sector innovation teams, social enterprises, individual innovators and innovation teams
• Requirement: Functioning prototype, pilot or deployed AI-enabled solution
• Target stage: Stage Agnostic, provided applicants have a functioning prototype, pilot or deployed solution
• Focus: AI-enabled solutions addressing African development challenges
• Target sectors: AI & Data, with applications across areas including Health & Life Sciences, Agriculture & Food, Education & Workforce, Finance & Insurance, Energy & Environment and Social & Governance
• Category: Event, Competition/Challenge
• Event: 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026)
• Event dates: November 2–5, 2026
• Location: Accra, Ghana
• Application deadline: October 2, 2026
• Application: Online
• Funding or cash prize: Not stated
The ECA Innovation Café provides African innovators with working AI-enabled solutions an opportunity to showcase their technologies, engage directly with policy, investment, research and technology stakeholders, and discuss the conditions needed for responsible deployment, wider adoption and sustainable scale. Eligible applicants should submit their applications by October 2, 2026.