ECA Innovation Café: Call for African AI Innovations – Travel Support Available

Application Deadline: October 2, 2026

Applications are now open for the ECA Innovation Café 2026, a continental initiative seeking African innovators developing practical artificial intelligence solutions to real development challenges.

Organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Research ICT Africa (RIA), the initiative will take place during the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF 2026) in Accra, Ghana.

The opportunity is particularly relevant for innovators who have moved beyond an idea and are already developing, testing or deploying an AI-enabled solution. Instead of focusing only on the future possibilities of AI, the Innovation Café aims to highlight solutions producing—or with credible potential to produce—meaningful development impact in Africa.

Selected innovators will have opportunities to showcase their solutions, engage with policymakers and investors, and explore partnerships that could support responsible adoption and scaling.

About the ECA Innovation Café

The ECA Innovation Café is designed to bridge the gap between innovation, policy and implementation. It recognises that technological solutions often need more than technical development to achieve large-scale impact; they also require supportive policies, investment, partnerships and appropriate implementation environments.

The initiative will form part of AfIGF 2026, whose broader theme is “Advancing Africa’s Digital Future Through Innovation, Inclusion, and Trust.”

Selected innovators will participate through two complementary components:

Innovation-to-Policy Exchange

Innovators will present their solutions and engage directly with policymakers, development partners, investors, researchers and technology stakeholders. Discussions will focus on the practical conditions required for responsible deployment and wider adoption.

Innovation Exhibition

Selected solutions will also be showcased through an exhibition, giving innovators an opportunity to demonstrate their work to a wider continental audience.

Benefits of the ECA Innovation Café

Selected innovators can expect opportunities to:

• Showcase an AI-enabled solution on a continental platform.
• Present their innovation to policymakers and influential stakeholders.
• Connect with investors, researchers and development partners.
• Explore partnerships for adoption and scaling.
• Increase visibility for their organisation or innovation.
• Participate in discussions linking AI, policy and development.
• Receive travel support to participate in the Innovation Café.

The opportunity can therefore provide more than exposure. For a promising solution, conversations generated through the programme could help identify potential partners, policy pathways, technical support or future investment.

Who Can Apply?

The call is open to a broad range of African innovators, including:

• African startups and technology companies
• Universities and research institutions
• Innovation hubs and laboratories
• Private-sector organisations
• Public institutions and innovation teams
• Social enterprises
• Individual innovators and innovation teams

Applicants should have a functioning prototype, pilot or deployed AI-enabled solution addressing an African development challenge. They should also provide evidence of development impact or demonstrate credible potential for meaningful impact.

Relevant areas include healthcare, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, climate action, public-service delivery, trade, small-business development and other development priorities.

Application Process and Key Dates

Interested applicants should prepare information about their solution, the development challenge it addresses, evidence of progress or impact, and how the innovation could contribute to broader development outcomes.

Deadline: 2 October 2026

Event: ECA Innovation Café at AfIGF 2026
Date: 2–5 November 2026
Location: Accra, Ghana

Apply through the official ECA Innovation Café page.

The wider AfIGF 2026 programme will bring together policymakers, private-sector leaders, civil society, academia, technical experts, youth and development partners from across Africa and beyond.

Why You Should Apply: Practical Tips

This opportunity is particularly relevant if your innovation already has something concrete to demonstrate.

1. Explain the problem clearly.
Do not begin with complicated descriptions of the technology. Explain the African development challenge, who experiences it and why existing approaches are insufficient.

2. Show evidence.
Where possible, provide measurable results such as users reached, time saved, costs reduced, improved outcomes or pilot results.

3. Make the AI component understandable.
Explain what AI contributes to your solution and why it is useful rather than using AI terminology simply for its appeal.

4. Demonstrate scalability.
Explain what would be required to expand the solution to additional communities, institutions or countries.

5. Connect innovation with responsible impact.
Consider issues such as inclusion, accessibility, data protection, safety, affordability and the needs of communities that may otherwise be left behind.

6. Apply early.
Avoid waiting until the final day. Review your application, strengthen your evidence and confirm that all required information is complete before submission.

Conclusion

The ECA Innovation Café offers African innovators a platform to move from simply demonstrating what AI can do to showing how African-led AI solutions can contribute to practical development outcomes.

If you have a functioning AI-enabled solution addressing a meaningful challenge in Africa, this is an opportunity to bring your work to a continental audience and engage with people who can contribute to its future development and adoption.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE 

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