The UNICEF Venture Fund is on a mission to champion diversity and inclusivity, focusing on early-stage investments and sparking groundbreaking innovations by startups. These startups are harnessing the power of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Data Science (DS), drones, blockchain, and Extended Reality (XR). Their goal is to tackle the pressing needs of marginalized and underserved children and their families, aiming to create a more equitable future.
In an effort to dismantle the structural and systemic barriers within the tech sector, which often favour certain solutions and founders over others, the UNICEF Venture Fund introduces a dynamic approach to foster an inclusive and gender-responsive environment. This initiative zeroes in on three critical areas: 1) Supporting diverse and underrepresented founders, with a special emphasis on women; 2) Boosting the development and accessibility of digital products and services tailored for vulnerable groups including children, women, individuals with disabilities, and refugees; and 3) Promoting inclusive user design in technological innovation. Additionally, the Gender-Responsive Innovation Challenge (GRIC) stands out by spotlighting companies at the forefront of gender-responsive solutions and businesses in Africa, aiming to bridge the gender gap through strategic investments.
The UNICEF Gender-Responsive Innovation Challenge not only offers a platform for recognition but also provides invaluable benefits, including mentorship and technical assistance from Venture Fund experts. Participants can look forward to 10 hours of comprehensive technical mentoring covering a range of areas from open source and business development to frontier technology and diversity. The initiative encourages applications from English-speaking, women-led, and youth-led startups (with founders under 35 years old). A selection committee, including members from GITEX Africa and the UNICEF Venture Fund, will identify five outstanding companies for the award based on a set of defined criteria. The application deadline is set for May 24, 2024. Interested applicants can find more information and submit their applications through the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) at form.jotform.com, marking a step towards innovation that truly makes a difference.
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