Apply Now: ADIF 2026 Jobs Call to Action Challenge – Shape the Future of Job Creation in Africa

The ADIF 2026 Jobs Call to Action Challenge, led by the Africa Development Impact Forum, is a unique opportunity for individuals and organizations to contribute bold, scalable solutions to one of Africa’s most urgent challenges: job creation. This initiative invites ideas, research, and practical strategies that can help generate millions of jobs across the continent and drive long-term economic growth.

As part of the inaugural Africa Development Impact Forum (ADIF) 2026, this challenge goes beyond a traditional competition. It is designed as a policy innovation pipeline, connecting ideas directly to implementation by bringing together policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

About the Opportunity

Africa is facing a critical moment. By 2050, one in three young people globally will be African, and by 2030, the continent will need approximately 72.6 million new jobs to accommodate its growing population. However, despite existing solutions and successful local initiatives, many ideas fail to scale or influence policy.

The ADIF Jobs Call to Action Challenge is designed to close this gap. It creates a platform where ideas are not only shared but also refined, tested, and connected to decision-makers who can implement them.

Participants are invited to submit proposals that address job creation across key areas such as industrial development, trade, entrepreneurship, skills development, and the future of work. Selected participants will engage in a broader process that includes a Policy and Strategy Hackathon, collaborative sessions with experts, and opportunities to move their ideas toward real-world implementation.

This initiative is part of a larger ecosystem that includes a five-month webinar series, a two-day hybrid forum in June 2026, and a post-forum accountability process to track progress and ensure that commitments translate into tangible outcomes.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Africa’s job creation challenge is one of the most pressing development issues of our time. High levels of unemployment and underemployment—affecting nearly 60% of young people—limit economic growth, increase inequality, and pose risks to social stability.

At the same time, Africa is rich with ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurial energy. The challenge lies not in a lack of solutions, but in the gap between ideas and implementation.

The ADIF initiative addresses this gap by creating a structured process that connects innovation with policy and action. By bringing together stakeholders from across sectors, it enables collaborative problem-solving and ensures that promising ideas are not lost but developed into impactful solutions.

This opportunity is particularly important because it empowers individuals and organizations to actively shape the future of Africa’s economy, rather than simply observe it.

What You’ll Gain

This opportunity offers far more than visibility—it provides a pathway to real impact:

• Direct Influence on Policy – Contribute ideas that can shape national and regional job creation strategies
• Access to Decision-Makers – Engage with policymakers, private sector leaders, and development experts
• Collaboration Opportunities – Work alongside diverse stakeholders to co-develop scalable solutions
• Implementation Pathway – Top ideas move beyond theory into actionable programs
• Continental Exposure – Showcase your work on a high-level African platform
• Professional Growth – Gain experience in policy innovation, strategic thinking, and cross-sector collaboration

Unlike many idea competitions, this challenge is structured to ensure that selected solutions are not only recognized but also supported toward implementation.

Eligibility

The ADIF Jobs Call to Action Challenge is open to a wide and diverse group of participants. Eligible applicants include:

• Policymakers and government representatives
• Researchers and academics
• Entrepreneurs and private sector professionals
• Youth leaders and innovators
• Think tanks and civil society organizations

Applicants can come from across all African countries and the global diaspora, as long as their ideas focus on job creation in Africa. The challenge particularly encourages participation from individuals and organizations with practical experience, applied research, or innovative solutions that can be scaled.

There are no strict academic requirements, but proposals should demonstrate feasibility, scalability, and potential for real-world impact.

Application Process and Deadline

To participate, applicants must submit their ideas through the official online application form. Submissions should clearly outline:

• The proposed solution or idea
• Its relevance to job creation in Africa
• Evidence, examples, or best practices supporting the idea
• Potential for scalability and implementation

After submission:

1. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted
2. Top 10 candidates will be invited to participate in the Policy and Strategy Hackathon in June 2026
3. Selected ideas will be further developed with experts and stakeholders
4. Winning solutions will move toward implementation and impact tracking

Learn more about ADIF on their official website. If you would like to apply to the Jobs Challenge Call to Action, use this form.

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