Curriculum Development Partner firm to undertake activities for YAI (Cohort 2)

Engagement of a Curriculum Development Partner firm to undertake activities for the second cohort of the Young Africa Innovates programme 

Nigeria, with its vibrant and diverse population, stands at a pivotal juncture in its developmental journey. With approximately 60% of its population under the age of 25, Nigeria is home to a significant youth demographic, poised to drive the nations future. This demographic dividend presents both challenges and opportunities. By 2050, its projected that Nigeria will be one of the most populous countries in the world, emphasizing the urgency to harness this youthful energy productively. Challenges exist in ensuring that this growing youth population in Nigeria finds dignified and meaningful work. Whilst opportunities remain in tapping into the innovative spirit of Nigerians who have the capacity and intent to solve local problems, whilst creating pathways of economic prosperity and employment the nation.

Recognizing this, the Young Africa Innovates (YAI) Programme (2023–2025) is a strategic partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Mastercard Foundation aimed at catalysing youth-led innovations to drive socio-economic development and employment creation across Nigeria.

The Young Africa Innovates (YAI) programme is committed to democratizing access to support for atypical actors including persons from marginalized communities, young women and persons with disabilities. Insights from Cohort 1 have catalyzed a shift toward a more agile, co-creative ecosystem, moving beyond the traditional incubator model to driving impact at scale. This requires an environment that adaptively aligns with the unique needs of the atypical innovator, ensuring that barriers to entry are dismantled rather than bypassed.

The Cohort 2 (2026) will be implemented across six states representing the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria: Abia, Plateau, Taraba, Niger, Katsina, and Cross River. The programme is sector-agnostic but strategically aligned with state-specific value chains including agro-processing, light manufacturing, mining, renewable energy, livestock, leather, tourism, and the creative economy.

YAI’s ethos is rooted in inclusivity, ensuring that atypical innovators particularly women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), rural youth, and those with limited access to finance or formal systems are not only included but intentionally supported through adaptive and contextualized incubation pathways.

The YAI Cohort 2 transitions from a traditional incubator model to an integrated Ecosystem Activation and Co-Creation Architecture, where innovators are supported through circular and adaptive Co-Creation Pods that provide wrap-around technical, market, policy, venture, and financial support.

To operationalize this architecture effectively, UNDP seeks to engage a Curriculum Development Partner responsible for designing, contextualizing, and delivering a dynamic, inclusive, and market-integrated curriculum across the Bootcamp and incubation phases of Cohort 2.

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[UNDP OFFICE NIGERIA

PROCUREMENT UNIT]