Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQ

Age Eligibility: If I am turning 36 on the 14th of November and the application deadline is on the 5th, am I eligible to apply?

If you are still 35 by the date of application, you are eligible.

Gender and Eligibility: If I am a man and the founder of the business, but the business is youth and female-led, am I eligible to apply?

Under the current cohort, the focus will be on female-led businesses with a majority 51% shareholding and active management by women.

CBO Eligibility: Can Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) apply, or is it limited to companies?

This call is supporting for-profit enterprises, so CBOs are not eligible.

Definition of Women-Owned Business: What exactly do you define as a women-owned business? Is it fully owned by a woman, or can it have one female co-founder?

Hub offers a range of skincare products that are feminine, delicate and long-lasting with vitamins and nutritions to improve your skin condition.

Eligibility of Organizations Led by Men: Can an organization led by a man be eligible to apply, or is it exclusively for women?

Only if the shareholding is majority female (>51% shareholding) and they are also actively involved in management.

NGO and Climate Change Project: I am 33 years old, running an NGO, and looking to venture into a climate change project. Am I viable for this application?

This call is open for for-profit enterprises only.

Application Timeline: What are the timelines for the application and the start of the program?

The call for applications is open from 16th October, 2023, to 5th November, 2023. The mentorship and acceleration are scheduled for January 2024 to September 2024.

Financial Support for Development: I have a small company in Somalia working in waste management and need financial services for development.

Please submit your application on [website link], and the evaluation team will assess how your solution aligns with the objectives of this call.

Business Development Outside the Competition: Is it possible to access business development separately, outside of this competition?

Yes, this is possible. We can explore tailored options. Please contact us at projects@kcicconsulting.com.

Partnership Companies: Do you accept partnership companies?

Yes, as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria detailed at [website link].

Pitching Format: On pitching, shall it be a virtual pitch to a panel of judges, or will shortlisted applicants do pitch video recordings?

Shortlisted applicants will be guided to create pitch videos for jury sessions.

Audited Financials: Is uploading audited financials mandatory?

Yes, audited financials are required to demonstrate your business's profitability.

Alignment with AfDB and National Priorities: Please expand on what you mean by "alignment with AfDB priorities and national priorities."

The company needs to demonstrate alignment with AfDB's focus on empowering youth for entrepreneurship and job creation in climate adaptation and resilience, using Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies responsibly. Additionally, compliance with national regulations and a clean legal record are required.

Company Registration: Our company registration is in process. What can we do about that?

Only registered companies with more than 2 years of operation are eligible to apply.

Eligibility for Males: Is it open for females, or is it public?

Only female-owned enterprises are eligible, with >51% shareholding by women.

Start-up Phase: I am from Ethiopia operating in Kenya. Can we apply if we are in the start-up phase with less than a year of operation?

The business must have been in operation for more than 2 years.

Gender Equality Concern: I have a concern about gender. SDG 5 emphasizes gender equality. Doesn’t the acceptance of businesses run and owned by women lead to gender inequality?

This cohort supports female-owned businesses, but the impact created by the business should benefit all members of the communities they operate in.

Proposal Questions: Is there a single document that has all the proposal questions to help applicants see all that is required before filling out the web-form?

You can preview all the questions offline and later copy them into the online form.

Application Process: I am from Somalia, working with the ministry of agriculture and irrigation, and I am 27 years old. How can I apply?

You can find the application form [here](https://kcicconsulting.com/YouthADAPT/)

Exclusivity to Women: Why is it that only women are eligible to apply?

This cohort of the YouthADAPT challenge is structured to support female-owned businesses.

Operational Duration: meet all other eligibility criteria, but my organization is 1 year and 8 months old. Can I apply?

Unfortunately, you need to demonstrate two years of profitable operations, which you do not have at the time of this call.

County Government Partnerships: How can county governments get into partnership with the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme?

You can visit the Bank’s country offices to explore potential partnership opportunities.

Equal Shareholding: What about if it's 4 co-founders, and each has equal 25%, with one woman?

51% of shareholding should be female.

Male Director and Co-founder: Our company is made up of women, one of whom is a co-founder, but with a man as director and co-founder. Can this man nominate the company?

Only if they can demonstrate >51% of shareholding should be female

Application Submission: Having a female as a co-founder, on whose name should the application be submitted?

Both details of the co-founders are required in the application.

Use of AI: Our social enterprise does not currently use AI in its agri-enterprise, and the criteria show it's mandatory to use AI.

If the enterprise can demonstrate the use of other 4IR technologies, it could be eligible. See detailed eligibility criteria [here](https://kcicconsulting.com/YouthADAPT/eligibility-criteria/).

AI Trial: Is it possible to apply for the challenge for our first trial on the use of AI?

If the trial has demonstrated a track record over the last two years, it is possible.

Incorporation Year: Our enterprise is more than two years old but was incorporated this year. Are we eligible to apply?

No, you need to demonstrate profitability over the last two years with audited financial statements

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQ

In case of questions or clarifications, please write to us on projects@kcicconsulting,com with Subject line as YouthADAPT 2023