$50,000 for AI-Powered Climate-Smart Agriculture Solutions – Innovate Africa Challenge 2026

The Innovate Africa Challenge 2026, run by Smart Africa in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is looking for AI-powered solutions that can tackle agricultural and climate challenges across Africa. The third edition focuses on moving promising technology into real-world deployment with farmers, particularly solutions that can improve productivity, resilience and food security.

Here’s what you can expect:

• $50,000 for the winning solution to support deployment, validation and scaling

• Technical support to test and validate the technology in real-world agricultural environments

• Support connecting with agricultural and technology partners

• Opportunities to deploy and scale the solution within African markets

• Focus on AI-powered climate-smart agriculture

• Solutions may address productivity, climate resilience, resource management, food security and other agricultural challenges.

Who can apply?

• Organisations developing AI-powered agricultural solutions

• Solutions should be sufficiently developed to demonstrate real-world potential

• Applicants should be capable of deploying and scaling their technology

• Solutions should address challenges facing farmers, agriculture, food systems or climate resilience

• The 2026 programme is focused on potential deployment in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Uganda.

Application deadline: 31 August 2026.