Four NGOs win $250k at Google Impact Challenge Africa

Four highly promising non-profits and social enterprises won $250,000 at the first Google Impact Challenge on Wednesday night.

Eight runners up received $125,000 each.

The four winners were:

• Vetsark – It is planning to launch Alpha Prime Disease Surveillance Technology to predict, prevent, and control pests and disease outbreaks in Nigeria to protect crops and livestock.
• The Cece Yara Foundation – It established the first toll-free child helpline and child advocacy centre in Nigeria and aims to connect victims with professional services through the web, SMS, and mobile apps.
• HelpMum – Using mobile technology, HelpMum provides clean birth kits to ensure that pregnant women are given the best possible care during delivery, irrespective of where they live.
• Project Enable Africa – This digital inclusion project promotes the access of people with disabilities and their caregivers to ICT skills and opportunities.

The eight runners up are: BudgiT Foundation, Bunmi Adedayo Foundation, Junior Achievement Nigeria, LearnFactory Nigeria, Rural Development and Reformation Foundation,  Seed Tracker – IITA,  Solar Sister Nigeria and The Roothub Tech 101.

According to a statement by the organisers, funding will be allocated in tranches as each enterprise reach predefined milestones.

In addition to the funding, the winners and runners up also receive support from Google to reach their goals and meet those milestones.

The competition, which opened in May, aimed to find the most innovative African non-profits and social enterprises using technology to solve societal problems.

Judges narrowed down 12 finalists out of the 5000 entries received and voting was then opened to the public from November 8-26.

The judges included John Momoh, CEO, Channels Media Group; Tony Elumelu, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation, MI Abaga, CEO, Chocolate City Music Group; Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, Google Nigeria country director.