Deadline: 15-Sep-21
Are you developing a digital device and/or application, that facilitates inclusive education? Do you have a concrete idea to raise awareness for inclusive education using digital technologies? Do you develop digital assistive technologies to be used in classroom settings? Do you work on accessibility solutions for online learning environments? If yes, then take part in the ICT4Inclusion challenge and shape inclusive education in Africa!
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is looking for digital innovations that provide or improve access to education for people with disabilities in Africa. This includes solutions that tackle specific challenges in classroom settings, remote/online learning settings, and/or informal learning settings. Solutions that facilitate the acquisition of employer-relevant digital skills for persons with disabilities are also welcome.
GIZ expects you to provide a digital solution or a solution with a significant digital component to improve access to education for persons with disabilities in Africa.
Prize Information
In addition to being coached by elite mentors during the bootcamp, the top 3 winning teams will be awarded with dedicated 3 month long mentorship program after the bootcamp, monetary prizes and an opportunity to pitch to Atos Accelerator programme.
- 1st placed team € 6,500
- 2nd placed team € 2,500
- 3rd placed team € 1,000
What’s in it for you?
The teams or individuals who submitted the 8 best solutions will be invited to a two-week virtual Bootcamp. If you are among them, you will benefit from the following concrete support during the Bootcamp and beyond:
- Technical assistance towards solution deployment: receive concrete support targeting the components needed for your solution to succeed such as marketing, fundraising, agile methods, accessibility, pitching, scaling and business development.
- Receive access to global international experts and guidance by mentors in the fields of digital start-up support, disability and tech, as well as education.
- Receive access to the international network of development and international cooperation, as well as innovation ecosystems and partner networks across universities, organizations of persons with disabilities, funders, Assistive Technology experts, disability experts, corporations and NGOs
What kind of ideas are they looking for?
They are looking for ideas which are not yet mature enough for general use. The idea must not be an existing product or service available to the public. Other than this, no matter the maturity of your idea, feel free to participate in the challenge and, if you are selected, they will help you further develop your idea from ideation to a functional demo.
How mature is your idea?
There are three levels of maturity of ideas that are eligible for the challenge:
- Innovative Ideas: Your team has found a promising looking breakthrough concept or theory to fill a gap, and which is unique or clearly differentiated from similar existing solutions. It is still a concept or theory in abstract form and cannot be characterised as a product or service.
- Mock-up: Your team has analysed the concept or theory through user and maker analysis, has identified areas of focus and has started envisioning what this product or service could look like. You have graphically visualised the potential product or service by creating design drafts of its various web pages in static form featuring its final design elements but they are not functional.
- Proof of Concept (PoC): Your team has developed a prototype to verify that the concept or theory can be viably developed and to demonstrate the functionality of your idea. The Proof of Concept helps to visualise how the product or service will function. It is an interactive model of the end-product which provides a concrete view of its design, navigation, layout and basic features.
When they speak about impact, what does it mean?
They are looking for ideas that foster change that can be described or measured as impact. Here are some examples to help you put in context your idea with this possible change.
- Social change means: Enabled participation of disabled persons in broader social groups/sections of society and an improved sensitization of the society for (the variety of) disabilities in order to continually consider disabilities in social settings.
- Economic change means: Improved education of disabled persons resulting in better employability and thus in a better financial situation of disabled persons. This includes disability-appropriate facilities and equipment of economic entities.
- Systemic change means: Continuous and integral consideration of persons with disabilities and their participation in informative/educational, professional, and social contexts and settings.
Eligibility Criteria
- Individuals or Teams of Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Students, Change makers, Tech geeks, Disability activists.
- Persons ageing at least 18 years old or above the legal working age in the country of residence.
- Permanent residents of an African country or non-residents teaming up with an African organization.
- Please note that Atos or GIZ employees (and their immediate family) are not eligible to take part in the challenge. Any solutions that are already on the market will also be excluded.
Criteria
You can submit your innovative idea, mock-up, or proof of concept (PoC) if any of the following four criteria apply:
- You are developing a digital device and/or application, that facilitates inclusive education
- You have a concrete idea to raise awareness for inclusive education using digital technologies
- You are developing digital assistive technologies to be used in educational settings
- You are working on accessibility solutions for online learning environments
For more information, visit https://ict4inclusionchallenge.org/