ACT Foundation launches 2024 Changemakers Innovation Challenge to drive sustainable change across Africa
Joy Agwunobi
Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation has launched the 2024 Changemakers Innovation Challenge. Themed “Driving Change With Digital Innovation”, the initiative aims to support and empower grassroots community non-profits and social enterprises that utilise technology to drive positive change in the lives of people and communities.
In a move that underscores the importance of innovation in driving sustainable change, the ACT Foundation’s 2024 Changemakers Innovation Challenge is set to award significant financial support and technical assistance to the top three winners and ten finalists. These resources will enable the winning organisations to scale their innovative solutions and reach wider audiences across targeted communities, ultimately driving measurable progress in their respective fields.
The grant making non-profit organisation plans to reveal the winners of the competition at its 8th Breakfast Dialogue on October 10, 2024. Interested social enterprises and non-profit organisations are invited to apply at the ACT Foundation website before the application deadline on July 12, 2024.
Recognising the transformative power of technology and its ability to revolutionise the global landscape, the pan-African organisation acknowledged the critical role of digital innovation in driving positive change in the social sector. According to the foundation, the African continent is experiencing a surge of digital innovation that has the potential to address persistent developmental challenges and enhance the overall quality of life in communities across the region.
Speaking on the development, Osayi Alile, chief executive officer of ACT Foundation, underscored the importance of technological adaptation in Africa’s development. She noted that Africa is rapidly evolving and embracing technology, and stressed the need for changemakers to adopt innovative digital solutions to address the continent’s challenges in various sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and empowerment.
According to Alile, technology has proven its ability to aid greater impact, and the Changemakers Innovation Challenge aims to identify and support nonprofits and social enterprises that are driving social impact through innovative solutions.