Deadline: August 20, 2022
Applications are open for the UNFPA Stretch Hubs Hack for Female Genital Mutilation 2022. The UNFPA Hubs Hack will source innovative solutions to accelerate collective efforts to end FGM across Africa.
The Hubs Hack will engage incubator and accelerator Hubs across Africa to tap into their resource of innovators and innovation solutions to pitch the best solutions to contribute to ending FGM in Africa. Each Hub will run an internal selection process and submit at least 2 innovation solutions to the continental challenge. The best solutions will receive scale funding and business support to take the solution to investment readiness.
The Hubs Hack will ultimately:
- Identify next-generation innovation solutions by applying the UN principles of innovation to accelerate efforts towards ending harmful practices especially FGM.
- Identify and build the capacity of a network of innovation (incubator/accelerator) hubs to champion FGM innovation in their community.
- Mobilize community (innovation ecosystem) support for innovators to champion the campaign against FGM.
Award
- Pooled fund: $60,000 in seed funds will be available for 2 emerging hubs to grow the emerging solutions. The funds will be disbursed based on agreed milestones and clearly defined needs assessment. Hubs will be expected to account for the disbursement of the funds.
- Coaching + mentoring + network building: Hubs will be provided additional coaching and mentoring by identified business coaches. The coaches will assess and advise on the submitted incubation/acceleration plan submitted by the Hubs. A network of hubs will emerge to create a peer support system to facilitate learning and sharing as well as collective ecosystem growth.
Eligibility
Hubs
- The Hub must be a legally registered entity in a UNFPA program country and have efficient financial systems including audited finances. (Submit audited financial statements for previous year)
- At the time of application, the Hub and any of its individual members, are not under procurement prohibitions derived from the Compendium of United Nations Security Council Sanctions Lists and have not been suspended, debarred, sanctioned, or otherwise identified as ineligible by any UN Organization or the World Bank Group.
- The submitted solutions must be owned by an innovator(s) attached to the applying Hub with a demonstrable relationship with the innovator.
Innovators
- Be individuals (young people) representing social enterprises and not-for-profit organizations including academic and research institutions.
- Be based in a UNFPA program country in West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and/or FGM endemic countries.
- be 35 years or younger (African Union definition for youth). Women and girls are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Innovation teams cannot be represented by more than 3 members. They expect the represented team members will transfer knowledge to other team members.
- Innovation teams must demonstrate an agile growth and learning mindset, including a willingness to pivot and adapt. Refer to the UN principles for innovation.
- Teams must be able to commit to the full scale of the project.
- Teams must be willing to adjust their solution with other innovators if advised by the business advisory partners.
- Willing to showcase your business through communication platforms to be determined by UNFPA.
Innovative Solutions
- Align with the UNFPAs Transformative Results and/core mandate and Align with the UN principles of innovation
- Be scalable and commercially viable solutions. Solutions that are adaptable to other contexts with little financial inject requires
- Align with the opportunity area identified
- Have a demonstrable capacity to empower women and youth.
- Be tested with a viable pathway for scale
- Be based in a UNFPA program country
Evaluation Criteria
The Hubs will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Potential impact on accelerating efforts towards ending FGM in Africa – Reach and scale of solution; Impact on the identified gap; Accessibility of beneficiaries/communities; Impact on quality, cost, and the effectiveness of services.
- Operational plan and indicators of success – SMART KPIs and milestones; Demonstrable use of evidence and data to inform product design and operations; impact documentation and dissemination plan; Documentation of failures and lessons learned.
- Scalability – Exponential scale strategy; Solution addresses a clear problem/need across contexts and other locations; Solution demonstrates the ability to use existing infrastructure and/or resources; Hub is willing and able to replicate the solution in other contexts.
- Team and key personnel – Demonstrable expertise of key personnel; Demonstrable connections with local stakeholders, including the UNFPA Country Office; Diversity of team; Clear organogram and division of roles and responsibilities.
- Budget – Alignment of costs and overall budget with milestones; Realistic cost estimates – competitive pricing; Matching funds and/or investment by pitching Hub; Capacity to sustain solution beyond UNFPA support; Fit with overall corporate mission.
- Concept and Solution – Hub clearly describes the solution. Alignment with the TR and the defined opportunity area; definition of beneficiaries and novelty of the solution.
- Incubation/acceleration plan – Clear incubation/acceleration plan with coaching and mentoring support. Demonstrable functionality of the prototype, evidence, and results from testing.
- Potential to Scale – Clear path to scale; alignment to the corporate mission.
- Communication – Effective impact dissemination plan; Documentation of learning.
Application
Click here to submit your idea
For more information, visit UNFPA Stretch Hubs Hack.
