The SDG Innovation Challenge is a transformative platform empowering young Africans to become catalysts for social innovation and sustainable development. By fostering collaboration, creativity, and community-driven solutions, the challenge brings together youth from diverse backgrounds to address pressing societal challenges while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

The SDG Innovation Challenge, organized by Melton Foundation Africa, took place from the 19th to the 21st of September 2024 under the theme “Propel Youth-Led Innovations for Sustainable Development.”  This year’s challenge aimed to ignite transformative ideas that address Africa’s most pressing issues while contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. Participants, guided by the Team, Problem, Solution (TPS) Framework, formed diverse teams to identify key challenges and develop innovative solutions. The framework ensured balanced ideation and effective problem-solving, focusing on five key areas: Energy & Carbon Reduction, Health & Wellbeing, Food & Nutrition (Agriculture), Education, and Water & Sanitation.

Embracing SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals),  This year, we joined hands with over 150 global partners to mobilize efforts, spotlighting the urgency of advancing the global goals and accelerating impactful solutions for people and the planet.

The SDG Innovation Challenge 2024 was made possible through the invaluable support of our collaborative partners:

Together, these partnerships reflect our collective commitment to empowering youth-led innovations and driving sustainable development across Africa.

Preparation and Outreach Highlights

  • Application Period: Opened from 10th to 31st August 2024, receiving 739 team applications representing over 3,500 individuals. This marked a 32% increase in applications compared to 2023.
  • Team Selection: 50 teams were selected to participate in the 48-hour ideation marathon.
  • Diversity:
    • Gender representation: 55% female, 40% male, and 5% non-binary participants.
    • Language: 90% English speakers, 10% French speakers.
    • Regional distribution: 50% projects from West Africa, 30% from East Africa, and 20% from Southern, Central, and North Africa. Countries included Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Egypt, Botswana, Ghana, Morocco, Tanzania, Benin, Malawi, Lesotho, South Africa, Mauritania, and Gambia.
    • Inclusion: Youngest participant aged 16; strong representation of persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) and underserved groups.
  • Focus Areas: 50% of selected teams were female-led, with projects addressing 15 of the 17 SDGs (excluding SDGs 15 and 16). Each focus area had at least 10 projects.
  • Impact Reach: Collectively, the 50 projects had already impacted over 10,000 people.

Event Highlights

Out of 739 applications, 236 participants from 47 teams joined the 48-hour virtual ideation marathon. Leveraging the collaborative workspace on Slack, participants worked intensively to develop and refine their ideas. Key achievements included:

  • Submission Rates: 232 participants across 19 innovation teams completed the challenge and submitted their TPS Workbook and 2-minute pitch videos.
  • People’s Choice Campaign: From 19th to 30th September 2024, submitted ideas competed in the People’s Choice Contest, fostering public engagement and support.
  • Award Ceremony and Pitching Contest: Held on 14th December 2024, this event provided a platform for finalists to present their innovative solutions and celebrate their achievements.

Winning Teams

The SDG Innovation Challenge 2024 recognized exceptional projects in six categories, with cash prizes awarded to winners.

Team Edveen: Edveen Edibles won in the “Winner Across Category” for their innovative edible tableware, offering a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics with their flagship product, the Edveen cup made from tropical Nigerian fruits.

Team Agro yield: Agro Yield won for “Development Initiative” with their AI-driven crop pest and disease diagnosis tool, empowering farmers with real-time solutions for improving crop health and boosting agricultural productivity.

Team Ecofly: Ecofly won for “Impact Potential” with their innovative solution to transform organic waste into high-quality animal feed using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, contributing to waste management and sustainable agriculture.

Team Empower Her: Empower Her won for “Implementation Potential” for their comprehensive approach to advancing menstrual equity through the manufacturing of sanitary pads, a 5-week education curriculum, and a digital wallet for menstrual health management.

Team VTS Mobile Library: VTS Mobile Library won for “Pitch Delivery” for their impactful delivery of educational materials to underserved communities, organizing book clubs and creating partnerships to improve literacy and learning access.

Team Yield Up: Yield Up won for “Degree of Innovativeness” for their creative solution to building an accessible learning hub for children with disabilities, along with their initiative to reuse plastic bottles for environmental and educational benefits.

Innovation Support and Resources

To empower participants and foster innovation, several resources were provided throughout the challenge. Instructional videos offered comprehensive guidance on methodologies and tools for ideation and solution development. Advisory hours were also made available, providing personalized feedback sessions to help participants refine their project ideas. Additionally, impulse videos were shared on YouTube, offering inspiration and insights at the start of the event to stimulate creativity and guide the participants through their innovation process.

Mentoring and Incubation

The winning teams, along with other outstanding participants, are undergoing a six-month mentoring and incubation program. Topics covered include:

  • Stakeholder mapping.
  • Business model development.
  • Prototyping and testing.
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Intellectual property management.

This program is facilitated by SENSE Innovation Management in collaboration with the Melton Foundation, TechFarm Hub, and other partners.

Acknowledging Our Esteemed Judges

The success of the SDG Innovation Challenge 2024 would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of our esteemed panel of judges. Their expertise, dedication, and insights played a crucial role in evaluating the innovative solutions presented by participants and identifying the most impactful projects.

We sincerely thank our judges for their invaluable contributions to this year’s challenge.

  • Constance Ohenewaa Ankoma
  • Lindiwe Mutungamiri
  • Lawrencia Awuku
  • Nick Coutts
  • Victor Valenzuela

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The fifth edition of the SDG Innovation Challenge demonstrated the transformative power of uniting young talent to address pressing challenges. The event not only reinforced the initiative’s vision but also set new benchmarks for participation, diversity, and impact.

Looking ahead to 2025, the organizers aim to secure institutional support and establish a multi-stakeholder SDG Innovation Fund. This fund will empower youth-led innovations, with a goal to inspire 10,000 solution ideas and make them accessible online for global development.

The SDG Innovation Challenge 2024 has once again showcased the potential of young Africans to drive meaningful change. Together, we move closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Discover how Melton Fellows are making a difference worldwide, driving change and creating impact through innovative projects and global collaboration.