Call for partnerships to address key urban challenges

Rapid urbanisation provides great opportunities for African cities and their citizens, but also serious long-term problems if not managed well. To find sustainable, long-term solutions to African challenges, Connected Places Catapult invites South African organisations and UK SMEs to form partnerships to develop solutions to urban challenges in Cape Town, Johannesburg and eThekwini (Durban).

The selected challenge areas are: Resilience in Informal Settlements (Cape Town), Urban Mobility (Johannesburg) and Waste Management and Pollution (eThekwini / Durban).

Partnerships are eligible to receive funding of up to £25,000 for early-stage concepts or £40,000 for more mature technologies to develop innovative solutions to these challenges.

South African and UK partnerships will be encouraged to collaborate, share expertise and develop sustainable long-term partnerships to improve life for citizens.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Urban Links Africa Open Call has been adapted to reflect the new reality of connectivity and travel.

Successful partnerships will benefit from funding to help them develop their solution to the selected urban challenge. They will also be able to access a powerful network and receive significant project exposure.

The Open Call process will run until 21 August 2020. Successful applicants will be selected in September 2020.

For more information, go to www.urbanlinksafrica.com