JIF

Joint
Innovation
Facility

The AEDIB Joint Innovation Facility (JIF)

Scaling digital innovation through Africa–Europe partnerships

About the Joint Innovation Facility (JIF) 

The Joint Innovation Facility (JIF) is an Africa–Europe funding and collaboration mechanism designed to support innovation funding Africa Europe and scale digitally enabled and commercially viable innovations through strong cross-border partnerships. In addition, supported solutions embed climate-positive impacts while driving digital transformation and market expansion. JIF supports digital solutions that are ready to grow across markets between Africa and Europe.

Building on a successful pilot phase in 2025, the main JIF 2026 call focuses on cross-border cooperation projects between African and European actors that scale existing revenue-generating solutions. As a result, the objective is to further develop their digital components and enable cross-border market expansion. The facility targets innovations where digital technologies – such as advanced data solutions or artificial intelligence – are central to the product, service, or business model rather than an add-on. Furthermore, all supported projects must be climate-positive, meaning they generate a measurable positive contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or resilience or present a credible pathway to doing so through project design and implementation. A core priority of JIF is to support AI applications that go beyond generic or experimental use.

There are two tracks to choose from: an open track and an AI focus track. In each track the lead partner could either be a for-profit entity, an Entrepreneurship Support Organisation (ESO) or an Innovation Support Organisation (ISO) including Innovation Hubs.

JIF is implemented under the Africa-Europe Digital Innovation Bridge (AEDIB) and part of the EU’s Global Gateway Africa–Europe Investment Package. It is co-developed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and the European Union (EU), and jointly implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Finnish Institute of Public Management (HAUS), leveraging their combined experience in international cooperation, innovation support and strengthening innovation ecosystems.

Eligible countries for JIF:

Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. European partners must be based in one of the 27 EU Member States.
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Why join JIF?
JIF drives systemic change.

Despite the growing number of innovative digital and climate solutions across Africa and Europe, many ventures struggle to scale beyond their initial markets or to form strong, value-driven cross-border partnerships.

The Joint Innovation Facility addresses this gap by supporting partnership-led scaling and by connecting innovation ecosystems across regions.

JIF drives systemic change by:

  • Strengthening African-led partnerships
    African organisations lead innovation consortia, ensuring local ownership, relevance, and long-term impact.
  • Enabling cross-border scaling through digital innovation
    Supporting solutions where digital technologies — including applied, sector-specific AI — are central to growth, efficiency, and market expansion.
  • Advancing climate-positive solutions
    Backing projects that demonstrate climate-positive impact, generate a measurable positive contribution to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or resilience or present a credible pathway to doing so through project design and implementation.
  • Scaling what already works
    Focusing on established, revenue-generating solutions that are ready to grow across borders and be replicated in new contexts.
Innovative, partnership-driven proposals

We are inviting joint project proposals from innovation consortia that:

  • Consist of at least two partners forming a cross-border consortium, collaborating between Africa and Europe and are led by an African partner;
  • Scale digitally enabled innovations, where digital technologies are central to the solution’s functionality, impact, and growth potential. This includes a dedicated focus on high-quality, applied AI solutions that go beyond generic or experimental use;
  • Build on established, revenue-generating products or services, with a clear pathway for cross-border market expansion, replication, or localisation;
  • Present a climate-positive impact, contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or resilience or presenting a pathway to doing so through project design and implementation;
  • Are commercially viable and grounded in local context, while showing strong potential for regional or international scaling;
  • Are led by committed and capable teams, with the technical, operational, and organisational capacity required to deliver results and achieve scale;
  • Demonstrate strong representation of women in leadership and/or founding roles across the consortium as well as within the project implementation team;
  • Require strategic, non-dilutive funding to accelerate their next phase of growth and market expansion.

Eligible African lead partners must be based in one of the 14 AEDIB priority countries:

Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

European partners must be based in one of the 27 EU Member States.

Download the Eligibility Criteria PDF document
All JIF-supported ventures focus on digital innovation and cross-border scaling while embedding measurable climate-positive impact.
Digital innovation focus

JIF supports innovations across a wide range of sectors, provided that:

  • Digital technologies are central to the solution’s functionality, scalability, and impact; and
  • The innovation is commercially viable and ready to scale across borders.

A dedicated AI Focus Track supports high-quality, applied AI solutions with a clear sectoral use case, where AI is essential to achieving the project’s objectives and impact.

Climate-positive impact

All proposed solutions must demonstrate a measurable, positive impact in at least one of the following areas or present a credible pathway to doing so through project design and implementation:

  • Climate mitigation (e.g. reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving resource efficiency)
  • Climate adaptation and resilience (e.g. strengthening resilience of systems, communities, or ecosystems to climate impacts)
Selected projects will benefit from non-dilutive funding and tailored support to accelerate cross-border scaling.
  • Non-dilutive funding of EUR 100,000 or EUR 200,000, provided through a milestone-based grant structure to support digital development and market expansion
  • Tailored support through the JIF venture Studio, including expert mentorship, technical advisory, investment readiness support, and peer learning across Africa and Europe
  • Increased visibility and strategic positioning within the Africa–Europe digital transformation transition agenda, in line with EU–Africa partnership goals and Agenda 2063

JIF supports joint collaboration ventures implemented by cross-border consortia and led by an African partner.

Eligible consortia may include the following types of organisations:

  • For-profit companies (small and growing businesses or larger companies) with an established, revenue-generating solution
  • Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs) and Innovation Support Organisations (ISOs), including innovation hubs
  • Applied research organisations, such as universities, research centres, or research institutes
  • Non-profit organisations, where relevant to the innovation and partnership logic

Consortia must consist of at least two partners collaborating across borders (Africa–Europe).

The lead partner must be an African for-profit entity or an African ESO/ISO, based in one of the JIF priority countries.

Applications to the Joint Innovation Facility follow a two-stage selection process and are submitted online.

Stage 1: Pre-screening

Interested consortia are invited to complete a pre-screening application via the online platform.

At this stage, applicants will be asked to:

  • Present their project idea and consortium setup
  • Demonstrate compliance with the eligibility criteria
  • Provide high-level information on commercial viability, operational capacity, and climate-positive impact

Only applicants who successfully pass the pre-screening stage will be invited to submit a full grant proposal.

Stage 2: Full grant proposal

Shortlisted consortia will be invited to submit a full grant proposal, aligned with the eligibility and selection criteria outlined in the call documentation.

The final selection will assess:

  • Strategic alignment with JIF objectives
  • Quality and scalability of the proposed solution
  • Strength of the consortium and cross-border collaboration
  • Climate-positive impact and digital innovation focus

Have you received an invitation to submit your grant proposal? We invite you to prepare your proposal offline. Kindly review the grant proposal form below.

Download grant proposal form

Grant proposal submission is by invite only after successfully passing pre screening questions.

Application timeline

The JIF 2026 call is open from 10 February to 30 April 2026.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with shortlisting carried out in two batches.

1st Batch: Proposal reviews from 3rd week of March 2026

2nd Batch: Proposal reviews from 1st week of May 2026

All applications must be submitted electronically via the online platform.

Late submissions will not be considered.

To support interested applicants, online information sessions will be held in February, March and April 2026.

The next info session will take place on

Tuesday April 14th 2026
14:00 – 15:30 EAT / 13:00 – 14:30 CEST
Meeting link

Download sessions slides

The sessions will provide:

  • An overview of the JIF 2026 call and application process
  • Clarification on eligibility criteria and consortium requirements
  • Guidance on scaling, digital innovation, and climate-positive impact
  • An opportunity to ask questions directly to the JIF team

JIF Matching Meetup Discovery Sessions

For SSA / EU businesses seeking a consortium partner, we offer an opportunity for Matching Discovery sessions. These “speed-dating” sessions offer you the opportunity to e-meet others from SSA and EU countries and follow up afterwards, if interested.

17 April 2026  13:00–14:00 EAT / 12:00–13:00 CEST
“Last chance” JIF Matching Meetup
Meeting link

*Important: While we offer the opportunity to connect with others interested in the JIF opportunity to explore potential collaboration, we cannot guarantee a suitable match.

Call launch: 10 February 2026
Application deadline: 30 April 2026

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submissions are strongly encouraged, as shortlisting will be conducted in two review batches.

Activity Timeline
Open Call for Applications
10th February 2026
Info Session – 1
18th February 12:00-13:00 CET / 14:00–15:30 EAT
Info Session – 2
4th March. – 14:00–15:30 EAT / 12:00–13:30 CET Meeting Link
Info Session – 3
5th March. – 12:00–13:00 EAT / 10:00–11:00 CET Meeting Link
(Special session for Huns/ESOs/ ISOs)
1st Batch Proposal Reviews
3rd week of March – 2nd week of April
Short listed Consortia Presentations
3rd week of April
Commercial Review & Due Diligence
4th week of April – 1st week of May
Investment Committee Review & Decision
2nd week of May – 4th week of May
Contracting & Milestone Design
1st week of June – Last week of July
1st batch Project Kick – Off
1st week of August 2026
1st batch Project Ends
4th week of August 2027
Info Session – 3
1st April – 14:00–15:30 EAT / 12:00–13:30 CET Meeting Link
Info Session – 4
15th April – 14:00–15:30 EAT / 12:00–13:30 CET Meeting Link
Close Call for Applications
30th April 2026
Second Batch Proposal Reviews
1st – 4th week of May
Shortlisted Consortia Presentations
2nd week of June
Commercial Review & Due Diligence
4th week of June – 2nd week of July
Investment Committee Review & Decision
2nd – 4th week of July
Contracting & Milestone Design
1st week of August – 4th week of September
2nd batch Project Kick – Off
1st week of October
2nd batch Project Ends
4th week of September

We are here to support you. Reach out to our team at: jif@giz.de

You can also explore our [FAQs section] for more information.