The Young Africa Innovates Program, a partnership between the United Nations Development Program and the Mastercard Foundation was set up to unearth catalytic innovations that can solve societal challenges and unlock economic opportunities.
The Challenge
Despite possessing innovative ideas, many youth face challenges in securing the necessary resources and guidance to scale their solutions, limiting the YAI program's potential impact and the broader goal of fostering sustainable youth-led development across the African continent.
The Strategy
Despite possessing innovative ideas, many youth face challenges in securing the necessary resources and guidance to scale their solutionThe agency was selected from a host of firms to develop a strategic communications plan for the program, and oversee the implementation of the communications plan. This involved conducting a comprehensive research pan Ghana to understand these atypical actors, their nuances and traits, in order to understand what triggers them to act. This comprehensive analysis led to the development of a comprehensive communications and execution plan to drive inclusion and support grassroot organisations to help unearth these atypical actors.s, limiting the YAI program's potential impact and the broader goal of fostering sustainable youth-led development across the African continent.
The Execution
Despite possessing innovative ideas, many youth face challenges in securing the necessary resources and guidance to scale their solutionThe agency was selected from a host of firms to develop a strategic communications plan for the program, and oversee the implementation of the communications plan. This involved conducting a comprehensive research pan Ghana to understand these atypical actors, their nuances and traits, in order to understand what triggers them to act. This comprehensive analysis led to the development of a comprehensive communications and execution plan to drive inclusion and support grassroot organisations to help unearth these atypical actors.s, limiting the YAI program's potential impact and the broader goal of fostering sustainable youth-led development across the African continent.
The Outcome
Over 2000 atypical innovators participated in the staging bootcamp over a period of six months. This was a record, further highlighting the widening gap in funding opportunities for youth-led innovations. The bootcamps gave them access to funding opportunities, mentorship and partnership opportunities to help scale their innovations. This program garnered a lot of public goodwill, with thousands of positive sentiments shared on social media platforms in response to these innovators. Innovators like Desmond Davies have turned into overnight "celebrities" on social media due to their unique innovations, garnering millions of public support and patronage.