Deadline: September 10, 2026
Applications are open for the 11th Africa Energy Innovation Challenge (AEIC) 2026. The 11th Africa Energy Innovation Challenge (AEIC), organized by Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF), mobilizes young, early-stage energy entrepreneurs across Africa to develop, prototype and scale innovative devices, equipment and digital solutions for social enterprise, agribusiness, fintech and energy management using locally available resources. The Challenge connects young innovators to quality employment, entrepreneurship and investment opportunities, advancing Value Addition, Youth Innovation and Community Action across Africa.
Proposals are invited across four innovation tracks for early-stage energy entrepreneurs from Africa, including:
- Track 1: Powering Youth Employment & Green Jobs;
- Track 2: Energizing Agribusiness & Waste-2-Energy
- Track 3: Greening Local Manufacturing & Value Addition
- Track 4: Transforming AI & Connectivity.
Benefits
Winners of the competition get the opportunity to:
- Receive share of cash prize grants of up to US$10,000 to demonstrate or scale the proposed solution;
- Pitch their proposed prototype model at the 2026 Nigeria Energy Forum, using a poster and short video;
- Benefit from unique networking opportunities with other young professionals as well as some of the most senior decision-makers in government, international development, academia and the private sector; &
- Attend business development workshops, industry mentorship & exhibitions valued at over US$15,000 and receive support from a venture incubator.
Eligibility
- Open to young professionals between the ages of 18 and 35 years from Africa;
- Applications may be submitted by a team of at least three people. Team composition MUST reflect gender balance, (comprising at least 1 woman and 1 man).
- Teams may be formed across different schools, institutions, companies, countries etc.
- Individuals or teams may submit multiple applications.
Your proposed prototype model submission must not exceed 1- side of an A4 page and should include the following:
- Project Title – Your solution (250 words)
- Innovation Track – Expected impact (50 words)
- Short abstract – (50 words)
- Design tools and method – (50 words)
- Problem Statement (50 words)
- Estimated costs and timeline (50 words)
Evaluation Criteria
The first round of submissions will be evaluated using the following attributes:
- Local Content: utilize local resources, demonstrate use of local expertise, alternative energy services or efficient solutions for powering agriculture, education, healthcare, industries etc.; and be significant enough to impact large numbers of people, households and/or businesses.
- Originality and creativity: present solutions that are original, creative in areas that are either underdeveloped or severely underdeveloped in research and literature.
- Commercial Viability: proposed prototype model should be realistic, practical rather than just theory, cost efficient, and outline commercial arrangements that address obvious roadblocks, using a specific prototype model.
- Youth Employment: ideas must link young people to quality employment or entrepreneurship opportunities.
Application
- Submissions MUST not exceed the word limit.
- Shortlisted submissions would be invited to participate in the final round by submitting on the AEIC webpage a 1-page poster to summarize their design, with detailed budget, 2-page Design Brief and a Short 2-minute video to pitch a prototype model of the proposed solution.
- Public vote on Video pitch will be held in Nov. 2026.
For more information, visit 11th Africa Energy Innovation Challenge.
