Democracy and Governance in Africa – Youth Innovation Challenge

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June 25, 2020

Democracy and Governance in Africa – Youth Innovation Challenge

The African Union (AU), through the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat, in a joint project with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have selected the Top 20 innovations on the “Democracy and Governance in Africa- Youth Innovation Challenge”. The selected innovators will now advance to an accelerator training programme with experienced trainers and experts, to help develop their ideas further for replication or scale-up.

The training will be followed by the final process to identify the top innovations for awarding.

The African Union (AU), through the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat, in a joint project with the Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have launched the “Democracy and Governance in Africa – Youth Innovation Challenge”. Youth innovators, innovation hubs and incubation centres across the continent, are invited to participate in the innovation challenge. The challenge calls for existing innovations that are making impact in the structural prevention of conflict through addressing issues of democracy deficit, lack of good governance and contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights.

"The call for submission will close on the 11th of August 2020"

About the Democracy and Governance Youth Innovation Challenge

The African Union ushered in a paradigm shift after its transition from Organization of African Union (OAU), particularly in the promotion of democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance. This was done in recognition of the importance of democratic governance as a foundation for sustainable peace and as a precondition of inclusive development. After a call for a continental agenda the AU Adopted Agenda 2063 as its long term development vision which is to create ‘an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena’. Agenda 2063 signals the commitment of African leaders to bequeath a united, peaceful and prosperous continent to the coming generation. In that regards, AU has dedicated its 2020 theme to ‘Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s development’. The theme of the year aims to promote prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in Africa to achieve a conflict-free Africa. The theme of the year will take stock of challenges and identify opportunities in an effort to make peace a reality for all, rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts and human rights violations.

Undeniably, there is a clear nexus between democracy, governance and conflicts with the lion share of the continent’s peace and security problems arising out of deficits in democratic governance. Democracy and governance challenges specifically weak state institutions, issues of transparency, accountability, and legitimacy; marginalization of citizens and groups; insufficient civic engagement, participation, lack of basic human rights, justice and the rule of law progressively culminate to conflict. It is important to note that silencing the guns in the continent is far from linear and it is a culmination of silencing several other ills – poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and many more.

To silence the guns in Africa, the continent must work to address the structural root causes of conflict by using different approaches – innovation being one. Across Africa, many innovators are coming up with initiatives and ideas that are contributing immensely to the culture of good governance, entrenching democratic values, creating social cohesion, bridging social religious and tribal divides, building common vision, creating platforms for dialogue, blowing the lid on wide spread corruption, trafficking of persons and illegal arms and many more - ultimately contributing to creating a peaceful and prosperous Africa - Silencing the Guns.

In recognition of the value that young people bring to Africa’s development and democratization process - the African Union has set youth engagement as one of its priorities by identifying youth as partners, leaders and beneficiaries. This initiative is focused to identify and recognize existing youth focused or/and youth led innovations to ultimately bring young people’s contribution on peace to the fore.

Young innovators across the continent that are doing commendable work - the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat in a joint project with Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is working to identify, capacitate and recognize youth innovations, innovation hubs and incubation centres across the continent that are working on innovations for structural prevention of conflict through addressing issues of democracy deficit, lack of good governance good and work to promote good human rights practices.

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The selection criteria

African innovators, innovation hubs/labs and organizations with a non-profit or for-profit background can apply based on the following selection criteria;

The innovation should focus on Youth or innovation should be led by young person aged between 18-35;
Innovators, Innovations, innovation hubs should be based in Africa; African diaspora are open to apply but innovation in focus should be focused or based in Africa;
The submission should be based on an existing innovation (digital or non-digital) on or contributing to the following thematic areas;
1. Enhancing good governance;
2. Promoting democracy;
3. Citizen participation;
4. Creating social cohesion;
5. Supporting public service;
6. Justice and rule of law;
7. Promoting and protection of human rights; and
8. Other relevant thematic areas that contribute to the AU theme of the year - Silencing the Guns.
The idea or innovation should have been implemented/tested with a level of success/ impact but have room for improvement, replication or scale up at national, regional or continental level;
Innovation must reflect the mainstreaming of women and gender equality;
Female innovators are highly encouraged to apply.

The application process

Applications can be submitted by completing the following Application Form.

Complete the form by filling in all the sections and email the attachment(s) to this email address: Azzoozh@africa-union.org. Once submitted, the application process is final. You will receive a notification email to acknowledge receipt of your application. No handwritten applications will be accepted.

The selection process

The top twenty (20) innovations will be long listed and only successful applicants with great innovations that have demonstrated exponential impact, will be notified. The review panel reserves the right to request for additional details from applicants. A public announcement of the successful applicants will be made in 6 weeks upon the closing of the open call.

The prize

The 20 applicants will receive an opportunity for an accelerator training to help develop their ideas further, for expansion and greater impact. Experienced trainers and experts will be supporting the ideas to refine, improve and transform them into initiatives that will be magnified, replicated or scaled up.

The jury will also screen and shortlist final innovations based on the ideas developed during the accelerator training and select final innovation/s to be awarded. The innovation/s will have a number of opportunities to be acknowledged namely on the African Union Commission’s initiatives on the theme of the year; AGA Annual dialogues, COMESA policy making bodies and others.

Resource and reference materials

Governance treaties

African Youth Charter

AGA Youth Engagement Strategy

Africa Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) Roadmap: 2016 – 2020

The Africa Governance Report 2019

Assessment of the Status of the Migration Governance Regime of Member States/RECs

AU Master Road Map of Practical Steps to Silencing the Guns in Africa

Africa Education Innovations Handbook

African Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment

African Innovation Outlook III

Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy 2024

Capacity building strategy on labour migration governance in Africa

Further inquiries should be directed to:

Ms Makda Mikre Tessema: Democracy and Governance Expert: African Governance Architecture MakdaM@africa-union.org
Ms. Doreen Apollos: Information and Communication Directorate: ApollosD@africa-union.org

Here are the selected Top 20 Innovations.

“Democracy and Governance in Africa- Youth Innovation Challenge” The Profiles of the selected TOP 20 Innovations.
INNOVATION 1
1	Name	Muazu Alhaji Modu
2	Nationality	Nigeria
3	Project title	Citizen Led tracking
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	Citizen Led tracking is a data-driven social accountability model aimed at improving access to information; to increase access to quality basic services through tracking expenditure meant for sectors by providing platform for communities to independently hold government accountable. This project directly relates to improving good governance practices on Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063.
INNOVATION 2
1	Name	Lydia Matte
2	Nationality	Uganda
3	Project title	SEMA
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	SEMA – Swahili for ‘Speak! What’s up!?’ – aims to improve transparency and accountability of public services in East Africa. We create user-centered citizen feedback tools for local public offices to give citizens a voice in evaluating these services. By presenting this data in actionable, easy-to-understand ways to local and national governments, SEMA fosters better quality public services that can improve the lives of millions of people. This project directly contributes to Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063 bringing the Africa we want closer.
INNOVATION 3
1	Name	Ms. Dina AboElmaaref Ibrahim
2	Nationality	Egypt
3	Project title	AkhbarMeter Media Observatory Project
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	AkhbarMeter's monitor the performance of the media outlets in Egypt to identify unprofessional and unethical practices of the viral content using quantitative evaluation method. This is done to curb fake news, media manipulation and provide reliable information to the public through fact checking. This helps to create a less polarized society and contribute to a peaceful and secure Egypt, and Africa by contributing to Aspirations 3 and 4 of Agenda 2063.

INNOVATION 4
1	Name	Ms Benazir Hilali
2	Nationality	Comorian and French
3	Project title	Axle
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	Axle aspires to shape the future landscape of governance through redefining socio-political risks and help public leaders to adopt adapted innovative frameworks through developing Risk Matrix to assesses peace and security challenges arising out of deficits in democratic governance. Axle speaks to Agenda 2063’s Aspiration 3 and Aspiration 4.
INNOVATION 5
1	Name	Romaric MOUFTAOU
2	Nationality	Benin
3	Project title	Movement for a New Type of Citizen: The Calling of a Generation
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	Movement for New Type of Citizen works to educate citizens to adopt a new mindset about citizenship. It believes that citizens should no longer be spectators of the governance of their communities. Every citizen should now become an active stakeholder and partner in spotting the problems of the communities, and in seeking solutions to those problems. The program aims to provide trainings, run campaigns and courses to inspire citizens to action. Agenda 2063’s Aspiration 6 calls for active citizenship that drives Africa’s development.
INNOVATION 6
1	Name	Lohose Talopondja Joe
2	Nationality	Congo
3	Project title	Addressing Conflict and Inequity through Energy Access in the Masisi district, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The innovation responds to the critical issue of the restoration of sustainable peace through helping the rural population getting clean, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy by empowering women and youth to mitigate conflict. This project addresses Aspiration 1 of the AU Agenda 2063 by addressing clean and affordable energy problem and contributing to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
INNOVATION 7
1	Name	Ms Lilian Efobi
2	Nationality	Nigeria
3	Project title	SIMPLIFY POLICY APP
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The Innovation aims to enable users access a reservoir of simplified policy position of the Government on their phones. This innovation provides easy access to citizens and activity engage on policy actions through the app. This innovation supports the implementation of Aspiration 6 by encouraging citizens to activity engage in decision making.
INNOVATION 8
1	Name	Ms. Zainab Al-Amin
2	Nationality	Nigeria
3	Project title	#DefyHateNow Nigeria
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	#DefyHateNow Nigeria aims to create a rapid community response to counter social media hate speech and dangerous online disinformation through rapid information response platform that uses USSD and other technology platforms to create awareness, dispel hate speech and online misinformation. The Innovation directly contribute to Aspiration 4 of Agenda 2063 of a peaceful and secure Africa.
INNOVATION 9
1	Name	Mpho Letima
2	Nationality	Lesotho
3	Project title	Closing the Digital Gender Gap and Leadership During COVID 19 and Beyond: The Future of Work
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The innovation aims to Increase the capacity of women in Lesotho in Coding, Film making, fashion and creating E-commerce platforms for women to be leaders in the sectors of Science, Technology, Social, Cultural Entrepreneurship (creative industries) and Media During COVID 19 and beyond. This initiative provides a safe space for women contributing to Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063.
INNOVATION 10
1	Name	Pusetso MORAPEDI
2	Nationality	Botswana
3	Project title	Online Kgotla for Greater Youth Participation
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	Kgotla stands for a community gathering that serve as a feedback mechanism for government development projects. Young people are never part of these meetings. Inspired by the local Kgotla, this innovation brings these meetings to an online platform to enable young people provide their feedback on different issues that matter to them. This innovation directly contributes to Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 of engaging young women men to drive the development agenda of the continent.

INNOVATION 11
1	Name	Sibongile Mongadi
2	Nationality	South Africa
3	Project title	Light weight and Low cost prosthetic (Uku’hamba Pty ltd)
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	Uku;hamba (Pty) aims to provide amputees a dignified life by providing low cost, high quality 3 D printed prosthetic’s improving the quality of life to people living with disabilities. This contributes to creating a prosperous and inclusive Africa – Aspiration 1, that leaves no one behind.
INNOVATION 12
1	Name	Noé Cham SEMANOU
2	Nationality	Benin
3	Project title	HELAWYER MOBILE APP
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	HeLawyer Mobile App enabes citizens to access fair and equitable justice for the benefit of the community, our service fights social inequalities through their mobile devices. It contributes to the consolidation of peace and justice in society and realizing Aspiration 4 and 6 of Agenda 2063.
INNOVATION 13
1	Name	Kaweesi Simon Peter
2	Nationality	Uganda
3	Project title	CAREERS MASTER MOBILE APP
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	Supports Aspiration 6 of an Africa who is people driven relying on young people and children. It aims to provide young people with relevant career information and labour market information to support young people to embark on fulfilling career paths and contribute to the Africa we want.
INNOVATION 14
1	Name	MUSA JAWARA
2	Nationality	SIERRA LEONE
3	Project title	Innovative Food Source processing Center
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	This innovation aims to o reduces poverty, malnutrition among the poor by providing sustainable access to training and value addition to locally produced raw materials. This innovation creates jobs for young people and ensures the contribution of Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063.
INNOVATION 15
1	Name	Emily Mogano
2	Nationality	South Africa
3	Project title	Trolley Dispenser
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	To curb the spread of covid and improve behavior of people, this innovation will create Trolley Dispensers to promote hygiene in public areas.

INNOVATION 16
1	Name	Etelvino José Armando
2	Nationality	Mozambican
3	Project title	Improving the quality of public service delivery through digitalization
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The project aims to support the digitalization process of public services starting with emphasis on mobile registration of birth, issuance of Identity Cards, Unique Tax Identification Number and more. It jumpstarts the digitization process of public services in the country and contributes to Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063.
INNOVATION 17
1	Name	PATRICK KABERIA
2	Nationality	KENYAN
3	Project title	PAWA
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The innovation focuses on empowering people through civic education, mentorship to enable them make better choices and improve Democracy, Governance and Development as a recipe for harmony and peaceful co-existence. This innovation focuses on contributing to Aspiration 6 of the Agenda 2063.
INNOVATION 18
1	Name	Madhi Abdelwaheb
2	Nationality	Tunisian
3	Project title	Citizen Report Card - Social Accountability Innovation
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The Citizen Report Card (CRC) which is a simple but powerful tool to provide public agencies with systematic feedback from users of public services, further engaging them in a dialogue with service providers for the purpose of improving public service delivery. This innovation contributes to Aspiration 3 and 6 by creating a fertile ground for citizen engagement in the improvement of governance.
INNOVATION 19
1	Name	Yves-Blandis Ganfere
2	Nationality	Congolese
3	Project title	Schou’Apps
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The innovation provides a platform for young people in by facilitating professional employment opportunities contributing to Aspiration 6 and Aspiration 1 of Agenda 2063.
INNOVATION 20
1	Name	Justin Anthony Ngbapai
2	Nationality	South Sudanese
3	Project title	Prevention from conflict Related Sexual Violence and Confident building between the civilians and military’s in Western Equatorial - South Sudan.
4	Impact the Innovation will likely bring and its connection with the AU or AU 2020 Theme	The project focuses on enhancing the capacity of both the civilians, militaries and armed groups to work towards for peace and creating enabling environment for reporting case Related sexual violence during and after conflict in South Sudan. The project contributes to Aspiration 4 and 6 of Agenda 2063.