Africa Youth In Tourism Opens Innovation Challenge For 2025

The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge is an exclusive platform designed to empower innovative African youth in the travel and tourism sector.

This initiative provides opportunities for funding, mentorship, partnerships, and global exposure, enabling participants to present their groundbreaking projects to an international audience and secure the necessary support to bring their ideas to life.

Eligibility and Entry Guidelines

The challenge is open to individuals (youth aged 18-35 years and postgraduate students of all ages globally), partnerships, or corporations innovating within the tourism sector. To participate, entrants must adhere to the following criteria:

1. Project Vision and Uniqueness: Clearly outline your project’s vision, its originality, and authenticity.
2. Evidence of Innovation: Demonstrate how your project addresses a challenge in travel and tourism or a related sector in Africa.
3. Sustainability and Impact: Highlight how your project delivers long-term benefits to the tourism industry, local communities, or related sectors.
4. Timeline: Provide a clear timeline for project implementation.
5. Support Needed: Specify the type of support required, such as funding, mentorship, investment, or partnerships.
6. Additional Information: Submit relevant supporting details in under 500 words.
7. Demo/Minimum Viable Product (MVP): Prepare a 5-minute presentation to showcase your MVP during the competition.

Selection Criteria

Projects will be evaluated based on:

1. Originality: The idea must be unique and not replicate existing solutions.
2. Sustainability: Clearly define the long-term environmental, social, and economic impact of the project.
3. Significance: Address critical issues in the tourism industry while aligning with the Challenge’s objective.
4. Applicability and Transferability: Demonstrate how the project can inspire and be adapted by others.
5. Practicality: Present actionable steps, well-defined objectives, and a clear execution plan.
6. Impact: Illustrate the potential for transformational change in the tourism sector.

Competition Timelines

• Challenge Opens: 10th December 2024
• Closing Date: 28th February 2025
• Top 20 Shortlist Announced: 14th March 2025
• Bootcamp: 31st March – 4th April 2025
• Resubmission Deadline: 11th April 2025
• Final Judging: 18th April 2025
• Pitch Battle: 11th June 2025
• Top 5 Announced: 13th June 2025
• Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit: 10th – 13th June 2025, Nairobi, Kenya
• Winners Revealed: Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards 2025 (dates to be announced)

Prizes and Benefits

1. Winner: USD1000 worth of prizes, including complimentary enrolment for short courses, mentorship, partnership, potential funding support, and career opportunities.
2. 1st Runner-up: USD500 worth of prizes, including complimentary enrolment for short courses, mentorship, partnership, potential funding support, and career opportunities.
3. 2nd Runner-up: USD500 worth of prizes, including complimentary enrolment for short courses, mentorship, partnership, potential funding support, and career opportunities.

Professional Development and Global Exposure

1. Complimentary enrolment in short courses by UN Tourism.
2. Access to mentorship, funding, and partnership opportunities.
3. Inclusion in the Africa Youth in Tourism Mentors and Innovators Network.
4. Present your innovation at high-profile events and connect with industry leaders.

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