The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has launched the 2025 Digital Innovation Challenge in Trade, an initiative designed to empower young African innovators to develop cutting-edge digital solutions that address cross-border trade barriers for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This challenge was announced on Wednesday.
Empowering young innovators
The challenge is open to African innovators and entrepreneurs aged 18 – 35, including individuals, teams, startups, and enterprises working on digital solutions that tackle cross-border trade challenges for MSMEs. These solutions can be in the ideation and prototype or operational and scaling phases. As noted by the AfCFTA Secretariat, the goal is to find “bold, scalable, and innovative digital solutions” that can enhance intra-African trade and unlock new economic opportunities across the continent.
Applicants are encouraged to propose digital innovations in areas such as:
Market Intelligence & E-Commerce Platforms: B2B/B2C platforms, trade data analytics, and market intelligence tools.
E-Commerce & Logistics: Solutions for warehousing, supply chain management, and last-mile delivery.
Cross-Border Professional Services: Digital platforms for virtual consulting, legal, accounting, and business advisory services.
Digital Financial Services: Innovations in digital payments, trade finance, and mobile banking.
Trade & Investment Facilitation: Digital tools to streamline trade procedures and regulatory compliance.
Entrepreneurial Skills Development: Digital platforms for training, mentorship, and capacity-building for MSMEs.
Benefits and opportunities
Participating in the challenge offers numerous benefits, including access to funding and mentorship from AfCFTA partners and investors, networking opportunities with African and global trade experts, and potential pilot programs within the AfCFTA framework. Winners will receive recognition, funding, mentorship, and access to finance opportunities. The challenge is more than just a competition—it’s an opportunity for Africa’s brightest minds to play a key role in shaping the future of digital trade on the continent.
Applications for the challenge opened on March 26, 2025, and the deadline for submission is April 18, 2025.
The selection process will involve assessing the innovation’s uniqueness, potential for expansion into multiple African markets, and impact on addressing cross-border trade barriers for MSMEs. The top five winners will be announced and will have the opportunity to pitch at BIASHARA AFRIKA 2025.
