Up to $10,000 SafeTech Africa HackLab Challenge
- Organization: UNFPA East and Southern Africa, with the Spotlight Initiative
- Type: Competition
- Location: Global
- Deadline: October 18, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
SafeTech Africa HackLab '26 is a youth social innovation challenge run by UNFPA's East and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa offices with the Spotlight Initiative, the African Union Innovation Lab, UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women. Young innovators pitch digital or community solutions that make physical, informational and online spaces safer for women and girls, tackling child marriage, female genital mutilation and technology-facilitated violence. Eight finalists get virtual mentorship and pitch live at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit in November 2026, where four winners receive seed grants of USD 5,000 to 10,000. **What you get:** - Seed grants of USD 5,000 to USD 10,000 for each of four winners - Pitch coaching and virtual mentorship for shortlisted finalists, using the UNFPA Social Innovation Toolkit - A live pitch and award ceremony at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit, 25 to 27 November 2026 - Exposure to investors, venture funds and continental development partners at the summit - Features across UNFPA, Spotlight Initiative and African Union media channels **What you'll do:** - Pick one of three themes: safe physical and community spaces, safe informational spaces (sexuality education and SRHR information), or safe digital spaces - Submit a problem statement of up to 200 words and an innovation description of up to 700 words - Set out a 12-month implementation roadmap with outputs and milestones, plus a note on safeguarding, data privacy and accessibility - If shortlisted, join a virtual introduction and showcase in early November, then pitch live at the summit **Key dates:** - Applications open 29 September 2026 - Applications close 18 October 2026 at 23:59 CAT - Technical review and selection of 8 finalists, 19 to 26 October 2026 - Virtual introduction, showcase and pitch preparation, first week of November 2026 - Live pitch and awards at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit, 25 to 27 November 2026 **More information:** - UNFPA Social Innovation Toolkit: https://esaro.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/unfpa_social_innovation_toolkit.pdf - List of East and Southern Africa countries: https://esaro.unfpa.org/en/where-we-work
