The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German international development cooperation agency, is supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts through digital technology in Benin, Cameroon and Niger. A call for projects has been launched for start-ups with the aim of providing them with funding and technical support.
The call for projects from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German agency for international development cooperation, aims to strengthen the resilience of populations to climate change in various sectors, including water, agriculture, waste and energy. Only start-ups with digital tools are concerned by the initiative, which covers Benin, Cameroon and Niger.
The focus on digital by GIZ has two objectives, access to information and knowledge of the dangers and solutions for adaptation to climate change, key elements for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
Support for nine projects
The GIZ’s approach is part of its “GIZ Innovation Acceleration for Climate” program. Start-ups interested in the call for innovations have until March 25, 2022 to submit their proposals. With the support of its partners Etrilabs from Benin, ActivSpaces from Cameroon and Cipmen from Niger, the German agency will support the selected start-ups in the concretization of their projects through a six-month mentorship and a “tailor-made” technical support. The nuggets will also be exposed to business partners and investors to attract potential business opportunities and investments, and will collaborate with GIZ’s digital transformation centers.
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A total of three early-stage projects will be selected per country, for a total of nine projects focusing on water and soil management, clean energy production, biodiversity protection and maintenance of vulnerable ecosystems, water, air and soil pollution control, etc. The evaluation of applications will start in April 2022. And between October and November 2022, a closing event including the opportunity to pitch to local investors will be organized. Based on the presentations, a jury of investors will award a grant of 10,000 euros to be shared between the three finalists per country (Benin, Niger, Cameroon), for a total of 30,000 euros.
Inès Magoum
