UNFPA’s Climate HackLab Project Launched For African Startups

The UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office, under the auspices of the Safeguard Young People Programme, has launched the Climate HackLab Project

The project aims to solicit smart innovations and ideas that will contribute towards building community resilience. Young people aged between 14-35 across East and Southern Africa are therefore encouraged to grab this opportunity and make a life-changing impact.

Specifically, the program will consider innovative solutions that support the empowerment of women, girls, young people, or marginalized groups in hotspot areas affected by climate change.

It will look at a solution that promotes the involvement of young people, women, and marginalized groups in program design to help in the delivery of sexual and reproductive health and rights issues in climate change-affected areas.

Solutions that promote access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health services will be given the green card.

Innovation that promotes the protection of women, girls, and young people from harmful practices such as child marriage, early marriage, and gender-based violence.

Solutions that promote protection systems to prevent and minimize acts of violence, such as sexual exploitation and gender-based violence in emergency settings.

Innovative tools that promote knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender, and climate change issues.

The project will award two winners with $10,000 each, in seed money and business support services. The two winners will be matched with a business incubation partner to support the business growth.

Application for the program is open until 31 July 2021.