Innovators in Africa stand to win US$150,000 for developing applications that will positively impact on learning/education and economic empowerment in their communities.
Through the Innovation Challenge in Africa, Facebook will award US$150,000 to the best two innovators in the above-mentioned two categories, and a package of tools worth US$60,000 from Facebook’s Fbstart programme.
Further, two apps, websites or services in each category will receive an Impact Award prize worth US$50,000 and all entries must be submitted by May 2016, with winners being announced between August and September next year.
“The Internet.org Innovation Challenge in Africa supports our vision of a connected world by recognizing those who are working on solutions that aim to improve education and economic health of communities in Africa,” says Ime Archibong, director of strategic partnerships at Facebook. “We’re looking forward to seeing how African developers are providing real value for their communities. By connecting people and empowering them with access to services and information, we can help them achieve extraordinary things and help them to enhance their lives.”
The development follows the success of Facebook’s Internet.org Innovation Challenge in India, an award designed to recognise people making the internet more relevant for women, students, farmers and migrant workers in India. Facebook awarded prizes to services working on these challenges in India, where it was inspiring to see the range of entrepreneurship devoted to improving people’s lives.
‘Facebook is launching the Internet.org Innovation Challenge in Africa, with the aim of recognising developers and entrepreneurs who are using the internet to improve the standard of education and economic health in their communities. Developers across Africa are invited to enter the challenge,’ a release by the Africa Press Organisation states in part.
