Agriculture forms the backbone of most African economies in sub-Saharan Africa where over 80 percent of the population depends on subsistence farming. However, the agricultural sector has been grappling with the challenge of climate change leading to unpredictable weather patterns and uncertainty in planting seasons. Furthermore, there is a high dependence on subsistence aagriculture which is characterized by low yields, little to no diversification or value addition, and price fluctuations. The result is low incomes, as well as, persistent poverty with minimal room for socio-economic growth and development

We need to disrupt the status quo and build the agency of rural farmers. RAN is looking for low cost environmentally friendly socially driven approaches to improve agricultural practices as well as to increase agricultural yields in both crop and animal husbandry. We are seeking novel ideas, approaches, or social platforms that will leverage societal connections and networks to address the following:

• Improving land acquisition and utilization including land consolidation for small holder farmers
• Access to markets, branding, bulking for better price negotiation
• Food sovereignty and security to ensure that food in communities is accessible and healthy for everyone, increased yields to ensure enough produce for homes and markets
• Use of low cost technologies and ICTs for agriculture, mechanization, easing access to farm inputs, seeds harvesting mechanisms, improved smallholder farm practices
• Value addition, preservation and post-harvest handling methods

The rising demand of growing populations for water puts increasing pressure on land use, water resources, and the ecosystem. Such pressures are aggravated by the impact of climate change which is likely to further modify the availability and suitability of these resources, as well as, affect agricultural productivity and livelihoods. We are seeking solutions that will disrupt the inability to manage water resources, wastewater, including water reuse and rainwater harvesting for homes, institutions and pastoralist communities. We are looking for approaches or technologies that closely leverage societal connections and interactions to address any of the following:

• Improved access to water
• Water filtering and purification, e.g., house hold water treatment Proper water resource development, improvement, maintenance and management
• Water bulking and storage for use in dry seasons
• Water handling to improve portability
• Harnessing technologies, e.g., sensors and use of ICTs for water management
• Energy to drive water generation and rationalization
• Agriculture all year round

Communities are highly dependent on restricted types of subsistence farming and livestock production rendering them vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change and climate variability. Adaptation is constrained by limited livelihood options and limited financial inclusion and engagement. There are challenges of human capital coupled with lack of education and skills and the inability of people to get employment in skilled or better paying jobs resulting in high un-employment, over-reliance on social grants, and other social safety-nets. Communities are constrained by the lack of entrepreneurial skills and limited access to finance/start-up capital. We are seeking innovative approaches, technologies, or platforms that leverage social experiences and social capital to increase opportunities for local successful businesses. Models and approaches or technologies for promoting life and entrepreneurial skills in communities that could address any of the following:

• Changing attitudes of communities to embrace entrepreneurial activities and businesses
• New ways of engaging the youth and women in entrepreneurship including skills training or re-skilling
• Promoting optimism and positive outlook on life to pursue business ventures
• Re-use of existing materials and recycling materials or waste materials into new products to prevent waste and create business opportunities
• Creative business models to help communities thrive financially
• Ways of involving youth in profitable business including online businesses
• How to get started - Savings and start-up strategies
• New ways of incentivizing voluntary work and social entrepreneurship
• Improving standards of living through engaging in diverse income generation activities for increased household incomes
• Creating opportunities for better financial inclusion through savings and access to credit
• Models for launching profitable businesses that would reduce vulnerability to food insecurity
• Attractive businesses with low investment, low risks and high returns

Communities in many developing country settings have poor access to legal support, yet, on a daily basis, they struggle with violations of their legal and human rights. In many settings, land-rights are a challenge, preventing many people from legal ownership of their land. Lack of legal ownership stifles financial access for investments and leads to vicious cycles of violence. Communities also lack the legal support to establish viable small businesses, effect contracts, and protect business undertakings under the law. Access to lawyers and litigation are difficult, due to a legal system that is elitist, intimidating, and accessible mainly to urban residents. Likewise, recurrent conflict in many communities in Africa is due to lack of proper mechanisms for conflict resolution. Even without resource to courts of law, mechanisms for community based arbitration of conflict have either broken down or are weak in many communities, fueling repeated cycles of conflict. We are looking for ideas, concepts, approaches, and technologies that leverage social interactions to increase access to legal aid among rural populations. These could be in the areas of:

• New ways of increasing access to legal services and legal support for rural communities
• Novel approaches to increasing rights awareness and initiative for families to pursue their legal and human rights
• Novel approaches to land rights protection to reduce land related conflicts
• Novel approaches to conflict arbitration and mitigation to reduce the effects of new sporadic and long standing conflict in communities
• New ways of reporting crime and rights violations so as to facilitate timely interventions
• New ways of detecting potential conflict and preventing conflicts before they occur

Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa confront the most dramatic health predicaments and disasters due to rapid urbanization, climate change manifesting as floods, drought, and chronic displacements, chronic diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. We are seeking innovations in the form of approaches or technologies that leverage social interactions and social capital to reduce susceptibility to diseases responsible for the bulk of morbidity and mortality and alleviate health concerns among low-resource communities. Innovations may address any of the following:

• New solutions and innovative approaches to control and prevent disease outbreaks and epidemics
• Easy to use accurate primary care level diagnostics and sensors for common infectious diseases
• Improved emergency healthcare, e.g., obstetrics care, neonatal care, and other emergencies
• Innovative approaches on sanitation and hygiene
• Low cost optimized toilet solutions for flood prone/high water table areas
• Novel solutions to reproductive health and adolescent health challenges

Gender based violence causes physical trauma and long lasting mental health problems, and can be financially devastating. It can lead to social stigmatization; it may be the cause of retaliations and sometimes death. These are only a few consequences of violence that victims have to deal with every day. Gender based violence remains comparatively invisible and underestimated. Because of cultural constraints and the strong feelings of shame and fear engendered by violence, most victims do not dare come forward to seek help. This only adds to the devastating effects on them, their families, and communities. Constraints and obstacles notwithstanding, immediate and appropriate action must be taken on the basis of systematic and thorough assessments to respond to the multifaceted needs of victims of gender based violence. We are seeking for innovative approaches and ideas that leverage or transform social systems to address any of the following:

• On spot reporting mechanisms
• Innovative approaches to mitigation of drug abuse and alcoholism
• Mindsets and cultural beliefs e.g. women who believe myths that marital affection should be expressed in forms of violence
• Innovative follow-up and support mechanisms for victims of gender based violence
• Innovative sensitization channels, empowerment, and implementation of policies
• Innovative approaches to land conflicts and settlement of land wrangles. Addressing land conflicts being one of the drivers of gender based violence

Indicate thematic area and topic of innovation challenge that project seeks to address. Include background information of the problem your idea will address that communicates a deep understanding of the problem, what are the known causes of this problem? Make sure you build a strong case of the magnitude of the problem that supports why your project is needed. This could include: research and statistics on the problem and your community of interest.

How different will your project be and how will it ignite change? What would the change look like in five years’ time, what are the primary goals addressed or research completed in the past to address this problem and how/where those solutions fell short. Include a summary of your innovative project (e.g. program, service, good, etc.) how it works, its intended impact and competitive advantage over existing products or services. Applicants will also classify their project as a Concept/Prototype Development, a Solution Refinement, or a Small Scale Pilot according to the primary goal the YSiG-S grant is expected to serve.

How do you envision your project achieving success? What type of support or resources does your idea need to become a reality? If you expect to encounter implementation challenges, please briefly explain how you will address those challenges. Include brief information about how you will monitor or measure the impact or success of your project in the first months of implementation

Describe the key steps for implementing your idea for at most six months only. Please note that the timeline may be impacted by the approval process and award disbursal.

The budget must detail how the challenge funding will be applied. Use the “details” column in the template to provide as much information as possible on how you arrived at the costs which must be in USD. Please note that the average grants range between $2,500 - $7,500 and applications should not request more than $7,500 from RAN. If you already have or plan to have additional funding sources and/or expect to receive non-monetary contributions, include them in the last section of the budget template.

Please note that you can apply as an individual or as a team. Applicants should submit letter of reference from their respective university departments. Team members from the same department need only provide one letter that lists all their names. Teams should also outline the roles and responsibilities of each member on the team