Applications are now open for the third edition of the Smart Africa & FAO Innovate Africa Challenge 2026, offering African businesses an opportunity to turn innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions into practical tools for farmers and communities facing agricultural and climate-related challenges.
The challenge is organised by Smart Africa in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the theme, “From Ideation to Deployment.”
This year’s programme places a strong focus on Climate-Smart Agriculture, with organisers seeking proven and scalable AI solutions that can move beyond pilot projects, reach real-world deployment and deliver measurable benefits to farmers.
The initiative is designed to give African innovators an opportunity to take solutions they have already developed to the next stage by providing technical support, expert guidance and opportunities for implementation and scaling.
To participate, applicants must be legally incorporated or registered for-profit businesses operating in one of the 39 eligible Smart Africa member countries. Businesses must have been operational for at least six months, have an AI-enabled solution, address a climate-related challenge and be willing to deploy their solution in at least one designated focus country.
Eligible countries include Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Cameroon, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, among others.
The 2026 challenge is open to innovations across Climate-Smart Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence, Agritech, Climate Action, Food Systems, Disaster Preparedness, Natural Resource Management, Energy Efficiency, Waste Management and Digital Agriculture.
The winning solution will receive a USD 50,000 service contract to support its implementation and deployment, giving the successful business an opportunity to move its innovation from development into practical use.
Participants will also benefit from a series of development and scaling opportunities throughout the programme.
The Top 16 finalists will receive access to a virtual onboarding bootcamp and proposal development support, while the Top 8 will take part in a three-month incubation programme with AI and climate experts.
The Top 5 finalists will also have the opportunity to participate in an in-person pitch, alongside access to expert guidance aimed at helping them scale AI-powered climate solutions.
For African entrepreneurs developing technologies for agriculture and climate resilience, the challenge provides an opportunity to turn promising ideas into solutions capable of making a real difference in the lives and livelihoods of farmers.
Businesses interested in participating in the third edition of the Smart Africa & FAO Innovate Africa Challenge 2026 have until 31 August 2026 to submit their applications through the official programme channels.
The initiative ultimately seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and impact by helping African businesses deploy AI-powered solutions that can strengthen food systems, improve agricultural productivity and help communities respond to the growing effects of climate change.
