- Now in its third edition, the award by Speak Up Africa and the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit offers four winners a combined total of US$50,000, mentorship and media training.
- Applications close on Friday 6 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Speak Up Africa and the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit (OPCU) (https://PartenariatOuaga.org/) have opened applications (https://apo-opa.co/4ilMcyq) for the third edition of the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award (https://apo-opa.co/3V3vzhV). This edition invites young Africans to propose solutions that use artificial intelligence effectively and responsibly to improve access to family planning. Applications are open until 6 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
Across West and Central Africa young people face significant barriers to accessing quality family planning information and services, including misinformation, limited access to confidential and youth-friendly care, provider bias and restrictions linked to age or marital status. In the region, 80% of unintended pregnancies among adolescents aged 15–19 occur among those who are not using modern contraception (condoms, oral contraceptive pills, injectables, implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs).[1] Against this backdrop, the Ouagadougou Partnership aims to help 13 million people access and use modern contraceptive methods by 2030.[2] Achieving this target will require increasing access to accurate information, strengthening service delivery and tailoring care towards the specific needs of young people.
Artificial intelligence can help support healthcare providers, strengthen patient referrals, and facilitate the use of data for service planning. However, the Award will seek solutions designed for African realities, particularly settings with limited connectivity, and that pay particular attention to data protection, safety, inclusion, bias, reliability of results and human oversight.
