About this opportunity
Applications are now open for the 3rd Edition of the Smart Africa & FAO Innovate Africa Challenge 2026 , launched under the theme “From Ideation to Deployment. ” The challenge, organized by Smart Africa in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), seeks proven and scalable Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions that can address Africa’s agricultural and climate challenges.
The programme places particular emphasis on Climate-Smart Agriculture , supporting innovations that can move beyond pilot stages into real-world deployment and deliver measurable benefits for farmers.
Eligibility
Applicants must: Be a legally incorporated or registered for-profit business. Operate in one of the 39 eligible Smart Africa member countries.
Have been operational for at least six months. Have an AI-enabled solution.
Address a climate-related challenge. Be willing to deploy the solution in at least one designated focus country.
Eligible countries include Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Cameroon, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
Focus Areas
The challenge welcomes solutions addressing areas such as: Climate-Smart Agriculture Artificial Intelligence Agritech Climate Action Food Systems Disaster Preparedness Natural Resource Management Energy Efficiency Waste Management Digital Agriculture Funding &
Benefits and support
The winning solution will receive a USD 50,000 service contract to support implementation and deployment. Other opportunities include: Top 16: Virtual onboarding bootcamp and proposal development support.
Top 8: Three-month incubation programme with AI and climate experts. Top 5: Opportunity to participate in an in-person pitch.
Access to expert guidance and support for scaling AI-powered climate solutions.
Application timeline
31 August 2026
Application steps
Interested businesses can find the official programme information and application details through the Smart Africa website: Smart Africa Innovate Africa Challenge 2026
Sources and verification
Important disclaimer
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