UNDP’s Acceleration Pilot Program for African AI Startups 2024

The AI Hub for Sustainable Development is a new collaborative initiative for steering private sector collective action to accelerate sustainable development in local AI ecosystems. By focusing on three critical pillars - data pipelines, green computational power, and talent - the AI Hub seeks to support African countries in harnessing the transformative potential of AI and ensure that the AI revolution leaves no one behind. The AI Hub builds on and complements existing initiatives of the G7 and beyond, serving as a multistakeholder space for steering collective actions with the private sector to accelerate sustainable development, by working directly with local AI ecosystems across countries.

• Table of Content
• About United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
• UNDP’s Acceleration Pilot Program
• Aim and Benefits of UNDP’s Acceleration Pilot Program
• Requirements for UNDP’s Acceleration Pilot Program Qualification
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

UNDP’s Acceleration Pilot Program

Application Deadline	05 Aug 2024
Country to study	Nigeria
Type	Entrepreneurs
Sponsor	United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of UNDP’s Acceleration Pilot Program

Selected startups will participate in an ecosystem-building event hosted by INNOVIT and the Italian G7 Presidency in San Francisco, California, USA, on 12 – 14 November 2024, where they can showcase their solutions, attract investment, and network with Silicon Valley AI leaders.

Requirements for UNDP’s Acceleration Pilot Program Qualification

• Be based in one of the nine pilot countries outlined in the Italy-Africa Mattei Plan: Algeria, Republic of the Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Côte D’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, or Tunisia.
• Develop or be aspiring to develop AI solutions addressing one or more SDGs, focusing on Education and Training, Energy, Health, Agriculture, Water, and Infrastructure (both physical and digital).
• Contribute to the AI Hub’s pillars:
  • Compute distribution and affordability
  • Talent development and orchestration
  • Data quality, accessibility, and digitization
• Commit to responsible and sustainable AI  development and deployment practices.
• Have professional-level proficiency in English (required for at least one team member, who will also be expected to participate in the in-person activities of the programme).

Documents Required for Application

Applicants must submit:

• A completed application form addressing eligibility, project details, and motivation.
• A concise company profile document (maximum 2 pages), providing an overview of the startup(s), mission, and key team members
• A PDF or PowerPoint pitch deck (maximum 15 slides) detailing the AI solution, its impact, and vision for growth.

Application Deadline

August 5, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on forms.office.com to apply

The Call for Applications will run from 19 July to 5 August 2024.

All materials must be submitted on or before the deadline. Only complete applications received by this deadline will be considered.

We particularly encourage: joint applications from existing startups collaborating on projects including with research organizations, other established private sector organizations, universities, accelerator networks nationally or regionally, that meet the programme’s criteria.

For any questions regarding this opportunity, please don't hesitate to email [email protected] for further information.

For more details, visit UNDP website