The UNICEF Venture Fund Launches the Gender-Responsive Innovation Challenge (GRIC) in Africa - Apply Now

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About The UNICEF Venture Fund Gender-Responsive Innovation Challenge (GRIC)

This initiative seeks to address structural barriers in the technology sector and promote diversity and inclusion in the development of cutting-edge solutions for marginalized communities, especially children and women.

The Challenge:

GRIC focuses on three key areas:
1. Investing in diverse and underrepresented founders, with a special emphasis on women founders.
2. Increasing the availability of digital products and services tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations.
3. Facilitating inclusive user design in innovation development processes.

• Sponsor Organisation: UNICEF

Benefits of The UNICEF Venture Fund Gender-Responsive Innovation Challenge (GRIC)

Companies will receive mentorship and technical assistance from Venture Fund experts to enhance their investment readiness and potential for future funding from the Venture Fund. It will comprise:

• 10 hours of technical mentoring consisting of Open Source, business development, frontier technology, software development, diversity, equity, and inclusion mentorship,
• Additional support to understand and navigate the Venture Fund sourcing and selection process. 

The UNICEF Venture Fund Gender-Responsive Innovation Challenge (GRIC) Requirements

The Venture Fund is particularly seeking solutions that:     

• Address challenges to accelerate results for children.   
• Are optimized for low-resource environments (e.g., low connectivity, limited mobile access).   
• Focus on reducing, rather than widening, inequalities.   
• Are able to deliver in multiple languages, including smaller languages. 

Application Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to get started with your application.

Application Deadline

24 May, 2024

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of The UNICEF Venture Fund Gender-Responsive Innovation Challenge (GRIC)

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