DBSA Youth Challenge for South Africa: Receive R1.5 million

Deadline: 31-Jul-21

The DBSA Youth Challenge is inviting youth legally residing in South Africa to submit their ideas and solutions that improve the lives of the communities by addressing infrastructure challenges in new and innovative ways that build Africa’s prosperity.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is looking for innovative ideas and solutions, big and small that address the challenges we face in infrastructure within the transport, water, energy, Information Communications and Technology (ICT), education, health and human settlements sectors.

Sectors

Only submissions in the DBSA mandated sectors will be accepted, namely:

Energy
- Your idea will contribute to economic and environmentally sustainable energy generation, storage and/or distribution.
Health
- Your idea improves access to quality affordable primary healthcare in marginalised communities in urban and rural areas of the country.
Water
- Your idea reduces water pollution and/or increases access to clean potable water.
Human Settlements & Housing
- Your idea offers a solution to the need for affordable, environmentally sustainable housing in informal settlements and/or rural areas of the country.
Transport
- Your idea improves access, safety and/or the experience of public commuters, or reduces traffic congestion and air pollution or increases the efficiency of moving goods.
Information Communications and Technology (ICT)
- Your idea solves the challenge of access faced by many, breaking down those barriers to digital accessibility and connectivity.
Education
- Your idea solves the need of access to quality education for every child ensuring that they’re equipped for the future.

Award Information

The total prize pool will be R1.5 m and the winner will be awarded prize money for their winning innovation idea.
If the first prize winner is female, there is an additional R 50, 000.00 to incentivise female entrepreneurship and innovation.
The winners and finalists will also be awarded a 12-month mentorship programme to assist with executing their innovative ideas and building them into successful businesses.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant should be between the ages of 18 and 35.
The competition is open to anyone legally residing in South Africa. DBSA employees, their immediate families as well as DBSA partners, service providers and other companies associated with the competition and with the DBSA are not eligible.

Selection Criteria

Ideas will be selected according to: