African young innovators are being invited to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to address barriers to family planning access, as Speak Up Africa and the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit (OPCU) launch the third edition of the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award.
The 2026 edition focuses on responsible and effective applications of AI that can improve access to accurate family planning information and quality services, particularly for young people across West and Central Africa. Applications are open until 6 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT.
The initiative comes amid persistent challenges facing young people seeking family planning services, including misinformation, limited access to confidential and youth-friendly healthcare, provider bias, and restrictions based on age or marital status. According to figures cited by the organisers, 80% of unintended pregnancies among adolescents aged 15 to 19 in the region occur among those who are not using modern contraceptive methods.
The Ouagadougou Partnership has set an ambition to help 13 million people access and use modern contraceptive methods by 2030. Achieving this objective will require stronger healthcare delivery systems, reliable information and services that respond to the specific needs of young people.
Artificial intelligence presents opportunities to contribute to these efforts. Potential applications include supporting healthcare professionals, improving patient referrals and strengthening the use of data for service planning. However, the award places particular emphasis on solutions that are appropriate for African contexts, including areas with limited internet connectivity.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate that their innovations address real family planning needs while incorporating responsible AI principles. These include data protection, safety, inclusion, the prevention of algorithmic bias, reliable results and appropriate human oversight.
Yacine Djibo, Executive Director of Speak Up Africa, said the award builds on an ambition established in 2021 to support African innovators and help transform promising ideas into practical solutions. Delivered in partnership with the OPCU, this edition seeks to connect young innovators with the expertise, decision-makers, investors and partners needed to advance their initiatives.
The competition is open to individuals aged 18 to 35 who reside in an African country and apply through a civil society organisation or a private sector organisation. Proposed solutions must address a clearly defined family planning challenge, incorporate AI meaningfully and have reached at least the prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) stage.
Eight finalists will be selected to participate in an innovation hackathon in Conakry, Guinea, from 1 to 3 December 2026. The programme, including preparatory activities beginning on 30 November, will provide practical training in business planning, partnership development, investment readiness and pitching. Participants will also benefit from mentorship clinics, bootcamps and presentation rehearsals.
Following the hackathon, a jury will select four winners. The two first-prize recipients will each receive US$15,000, while the two second-prize recipients will each receive US$10,000, bringing the total financial award to US$50,000.
Beyond the funding, winners will receive a three-month mentorship programme, access to specialists in family planning, artificial intelligence and business development, as well as media training and opportunities to present their innovations to potential investors and partners.
Marie Ba, Director of the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit, highlighted the importance of involving young people in efforts to expand access to modern contraception. She also noted that finalists will have opportunities to showcase their projects during the Ouagadougou Partnership Annual Meeting and engage with decision-makers, healthcare providers and development partners.
The award reflects a growing effort to position African youth not only as beneficiaries of technological and healthcare innovation, but also as creators of solutions to the continent’s most pressing development challenges. By combining financial support, technical expertise and access to influential networks, the initiative seeks to help promising ideas move beyond the prototype stage and towards practical implementation.
With the application deadline approaching, eligible innovators and organisations have until 6 November 2026 to submit their proposals and compete for an opportunity to advance AI-driven solutions for more accessible, inclusive and youth-responsive family planning services across Africa.
