Ideas Challenge Zambia looks to entrepreneurs to solve social problems

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), BongoHive Technology and Innovation Hub have teamed up to launch the Ideas Challenge Zambia. With a focus on the Zambia’s social challenges, the initiative is calling for ideas related to two information and health-related themes: Mapping and Focused Antenatal.

Not only is the challenge looking to source ideas with social impact from the public, but it plans to turn these into viable web and mobile-based products and services.

The Mapping challenge sets out to develop a platform that maps and offers locations of health facilities, schools, shops and other social facilities in Zambia. The platform should offer satellite imagery, street names/signs and route planning to help a person find the location of place they may be in need of.

The Focused Antenatal challenge wants to develop a platform that can help reduce the risk of maternal death and infant mortality. Young mothers are required to go for Antenatal care at least four times during pregnancy to track health of baby and mother, to receive information on HIV/AIDS, vaccinations and nutrition.

Read more: Zoona: mobile money helping Zambia’s unbanked populace

The winners of the Ideas Challenge Zambia will enter a three-month incubation program consisting of business development support services provided by BongoHive and UNICEF. These teams will be provided with one-on-one coaching sessions with mentors further refining their ideas and preparing the participants for launch.

• Deadline for applications 5pm, 30 November 2015.
• Young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years are eligible to apply.
• Applicants are allowed to submit applications as individuals or in teams of not more than three people.
• All submissions will be accepted exclusively online via the Ideas Challenge Zambia website.

For more details on the Ideas Challenge Zambia, you can follow this link.