The UNDP Africa Young Innovates Programme 2026/2027

About the opportunity

The UNDP Africa Young Innovates Programme is a partnership between UNDP and Mastercard Foundation that supports young innovators in Nigeria. It aims to identify, incubate, and scale youth-led innovations across the country. The programme is now open to innovators aged 18-35 in seven states.

What you get

• Opportunity to incubate and scale your innovation
• Technical support from facilitators and mentors
• Financial support through grants
• Hands-on support to build for real customers and markets
• Connection to markets, capital, and partners to scale

Who can apply

• Aged 18-35
• Resident of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, or Taraba
• Solutions from any sector are welcome
• Job creation prospect and lived experience of the problem will be considered
• For-profit models, proof of concept, scalability, and co-creation readiness will be assessed

What you need to apply

• Submit your innovation online between 1 September and 18 November 2026
• Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria
• Prepare your application, considering the programme's requirements and assessment criteria