The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the "Tchoova Njinga" Innovation Challenge, offering a total of $2.2 million to support creative solutions that leverage bicycles to tackle key social and economic challenges.

The Bicycle Innovation Challenge has been launched in Malawi and Zambia. This initiative recognizes the transformative power of bicycles in our region of Africa, where over 78% of the population relies on walking for essential needs.

Director of Administration at Malawi's Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Ben M’bwana said, "Bicycles are not just a means of transport; they are a transformative tool for development and empowerment."

Recently USAID held a roundtable event in Malawi on December 9th, 2024 which attracted participants from the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Ministry of Transport and Public Works, USAID, World Bicycle Relief, ActionAid, and MHub, amongst others.  

This followed a roundtable and launch hosted in Lusaka, Zambia, on December 4th. The main purpose of the roundtables was to bring together stakeholders to discuss ideas around the use of bicycles in the region, with an emphasis on Zambia and Malawi.

The Tchoova Njinga Innovation Challenge is part of USAID’s Innovation Design, Execution, and Acceleration Support (IDEAS) mechanism, which promotes creative problem-solving to address pressing challenges in Malawi and Zambia.

This initiative invites Malawians and Zambians to create bicycle-related solutions that tackle important social and economic challenges, such as improving healthcare access and boosting economic mobility.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to share their innovative ideas on how bicycles can be used to enhance transportation, health, and economic development in both countries.

The Tchoova Njinga Challenge embraces open innovation, providing financial and non-financial support to help promising ideas flourish. It offers two funding streams.

Stream One is on Developing Innovations which focuses on early-stage ideas ready for field testing. Selected applicants will receive between $25,000 and $100,000 in funding, along with dedicated support from June 2025 to May 2026.

Stream Two is on Transition to Scale which targets proven innovations that have demonstrated success on a small scale but require further validation and partnerships to reach a wider audience. Funding for this stream ranges from $200,000 to $400,000, with support provided from June 2025 to November 2026.

Beyond financial backing, successful applicants will benefit from a comprehensive package of non-financial support, including, including group training sessions and tailored workshops addressing key themes related to the challenge.

There will also be mentorship programs with personalized guidance and support from experienced mentors to help navigate project development.

The Tchoova Njinga Innovation Challenge is open for submissions from December 9, 2024, and the deadline for entries is January 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

Applicants, including members of the public, organisations, NGOs, and private innovators are encouraged to submit their concept notes BY CLICKING HERE to participate in the challenge.