Facebook Innovation Challenge – Recognition for African developers who are working to deliver apps, websites and services for learning/education and economic empowerment; $US150, 000 awards for winners in two categories
Facebook is launching the Internet.org Innovation Challenge in Africa, with the aim of recognising developers and entrepreneurs who are using the internet to improve the standard of education and economic health in their communities. Developers across Africa are invited to enter the challenge.
Facebook Internet.org Innovation Challenge for Africa
Facebook will present an Innovation Challenge Award of US $150,000 to the app, website or service judged to be the best in two categories: learning/education and economic empowerment. Each Innovation Challenge Award winner will also receive a package of tools and services worth up to $60,000 from Facebook’s FbStart program. Two apps, websites or services in each category will receive an Impact Award prize in the amount of $50,000.
Connecting People Across Growth Economies
This follows the success of Facebook’s Internet.org Innovation Challenge in India, an award designed to recognise people making the internet more relevant for women, students, farmers and migrant workers in India. Facebook awarded prizes to services working on these challenges in India, where it was inspiring to see the range of entrepreneurship devoted to improving people’s lives.
“The Internet.org Innovation Challenge in Africa supports our vision of a connected world by recognizing those who are working on solutions that aim to improve education and economic health of communities in Africa,” says Ime Archibong, director of strategic partnerships at Facebook. “We’re looking forward to seeing how African developers are providing real value for their communities. By connecting people and empowering them with access to services and information, we can help them achieve extraordinary things and help them to enhance their lives.”
The Details of the Awards
The awards are open to developers of apps, websites and online services that provide real value to African communities under the following pillars:
- Learning/education (apps, websites or online services that make use of technology to inspire and deliver learning)
- Economic empowerment (apps, websites or online services that help to advance the economic strength and ability of communities)
Prizes
- One Innovation Challenge Award prize in the amount of $150,000 USD will be presented to the app, website or service that the judges determine best meets the needs of each of the two categories:
- Learning/Education and Economic Empowerment (2 awards total).
- Each of the Innovation Challenge Award winners will also be eligible to receive more than $60,000 USD in tools and services from FbStart, a Facebook program designed to help early stage mobile startups build and grow their apps. In addition, two Impact Award prizes in the amount of $50,000 USD will be presented to two apps, websites or services designed for each of the two pillars (4 awards total).
Timeline
We will begin accepting entries on December 1, 2015. All entries must be received by May 1, 2016. Winners will be announced in September 2016.
Application Closing Date
1st May, 2016.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should
Click Here to Start Application
Rules
Please review the Internet.org Innovation Challenge rules carefully before entering.
Click here to Download the Rule (PDF)
Or
Request a copy by emailing: and please send a signed copy of the rules to: in addition to the completion of the application above.
Note: Winners will be announced in August/September 2016.