The Innovate Africa Challenge 2026 (3rd Edition): Call for Applications

The Innovate Africa Challenge (3rd Edition), launched by Smart Africa in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), aims to accelerate the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions that address some of Africa’s most pressing agricultural and climate challenges. 

Under the theme “From Ideation to Deployment”, this edition focuses on moving beyond ideas and prototypes to support practical and scalable solutions that deliver measurable benefits for farmers. 

From improving crop forecasting and pest detection to optimizing water use and strengthening climate resilience, AI can help transform agrifood systems across the continent. 

The Challenge will identify and support a proven AI-driven solution for Climate-Smart Agriculture, validating its impact in real-world farming contexts and creating pathways for wider adoption. 

The selected solution will receive USD 50’000 to support deployment, validation, and scaling with farmers. 

🚀 Are you developing an AI solution for sustainable agriculture? 

Join the movement and turn your ideas into action. 

📅 Applications close on August 31, 2026 

🔗 Apply today: https://sti-portal.fao.org/network/group/34/about