HiiL Justice Accelerator, alongside the Ford Foundation, is expanding its SME Empowerment Innovation Challenge in 2016. More countries and regions, including Kenya, are included in the quest to empower SMEs across Africa.
HiiL began the SME Empowerment Innovation Challenge in 2015; in partnership with Ford Foundation. The program aims to address challenges facing new businesses in Africa.
This SME empowerment challenge is expanding to other countries. In 2015 it was focused on West and East Africa. Kenya is among the new territories for HiiL and applications are very much encouraged from them.
The Challenge seeks innovations to eliminate the multitude of challenges SMEs in Africa have to deal with
Some of the targeted areas include, but not limited to:
- Solutions that provide equality of opportunities for entrepreneurs to start a business
- Services that secure better and affordable intellectual property rights for SMEs
- Fraud and corruption fighting tools that apply to businesses
- Contract enforcement mechanisms for businesses
- Solutions that empower labour rights within the informal SME sector
- Platforms that provide cost-effective and customized legal services for businesses
- Data and information sharing tools geared at legal needs of SMEs
- Projects that promote enabling legislation, regulations and policies applying to SMEs
The winner of HiiL SME Empowerment Innovation Challenge will receive an investment of up to €80,000. On top of this will be global recognition for your innovation.
Application deadline is 30th June, 2016. Visit the official website to apply and learn more.
