We support young health entrepreneurs across Africa to bring their innovations to life. We do this by providing financial and in-kind support to Africa Young Innovator for Health Award winners.
To strengthen the African entrepreneurship ecosystem in the healthcare sector developing local capacity for healthcare innovation and supporting young people across the continent to realize their full potential as enablers of change.
According to the African Development Bank, 22 percent of Africa’s working-age population are starting businesses – the highest entrepreneurship rate in the world. Yet, increasingly more investment in human capital is needed for this demographic potential to reap the development rewards it should. Through the Award, we want to support young entrepreneurs creating innovative solutions every day to shape safer, better, and healthier futures and build their capacity to make a difference – today.
Whilst many African countries have shown their commitment to achieving UHC by 2030, progress towards attaining this goal has stalled in the past year, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating already strained health systems. However, according to the AHAIC State of UHC in Africa Report:
In a bid to accelerate efforts to reach global goals dedicated to providing healthcare to anyone who needs it, the 2nd edition of the Award program is searching for innovations that can help: