Deadline: 16-Apr-21
The SDG’s Advisory Unit of the Office of the President in partnership with the UNDP and supported by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has just launched Champions of Trade for the SDGs designed to nurture innovative ideas through which the AfCFTA can deliver the SDGs.
The core objectives of the Champions of Trade for the SDGs initiative are to promote continental trade among young African Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Agripreneurs and Startups and help the youth and especially women, to understand how important it is for everyone to be involved in achieving the broader objectives of the Africa Free Continental Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and especially so for the SDGs.
The Relationship between the SDGS & AfCFTA
- The purpose and strategic objectives of the SDGs and the AfCFTA are indivisible. The SDGs are about eradicating poverty, protecting their planet and they are about prosperity for all.
- The AfCFTA is broadly about eradicating poverty, through inclusive growth, sustainable jobs and sustainable industrial development overall.
- Both the SDGs and the AfCFTA are bold and ambitious initiatives, they are transformative at their core, they are about enlarging choices and opportunities for human development, they are about paradigm shifts and business ‘’as unusual’’.
- Implemented effectively, both the AfCFTA and the SDGs are potentially game changers when it comes to sustainable development of Africa, and a brighter future for the continent and its people.
- Cross-border trade in Africa is dominated by women, and dismantling the barriers to intra-African trade as the AfCFTA seeks to do, will provide the opportunity for millions of women on the continent.
- The AfCFTA and the SDGs are milestone initiatives and potential game-changers for Africa. The SDGs are about the World that they want; and the AfCFTA is an important building block for the Africa that They Want.
- Most especially highlighted in this campaign, is the purpose of the AfCFTA in achieving SDG #8 – “decent work and economic growth” and #9 – “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”.
Prize Award
- Based on the popular acclamation and scores from the panel of judges, 3 out of the 16 tasked teams would be selected as finalists and awarded the seed fund of GHC 10,000 each.
Eligibility Criteria
- Participation is open to all. With a mission to project the national interest, youth networks, innovation hubs and community/grass root organisations from across the 16 regions of Ghana are strongly encouraged to apply.
Judging Criteria
Careful consideration will be given to ideas which empower women and promote the sustainability of people, planet, partnerships for ensuring AfCFTA works and it works for the SDGs. Full competition rules are developed based on impartial standard corporate practices and requirements:
- Creativity and Ingenuity: Applicants should clearly show how their idea is innovative and different from what exist.
- Scalability: Capacity to propagate and increase.
- Presentation: Outstanding and compellingly submissions with practical demonstration.
- Relevance: Applicants should demonstrate what the idea means for grassroot change especially for the region they represent.
- Feasibility: How practical is the idea or solution that is being advanced? Implementation risks.
For more information, visit https://www.championsoftradeghana.com/