Scholarship Overview
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Overview
UNICEF Femtech Ventures is a five-year initiative (2025–2030) from the UNICEF Venture Fund that invests in locally developed, open-source technology solutions addressing the health, wellbeing and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of girls and women. The second annual cohort call invites applications from companies in emerging markets—including Zimbabwe and SADC countries—using frontier technologies such as AI, machine learning, blockchain and data science.
Selected companies join the Femtech Ventures portfolio and receive up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding, 12 months of technical mentorship, and access to UNICEF’s global network including government relationships to support scaling.
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Why This Matters for African Applicants
Women and girls make up nearly half the world’s population, yet women’s health receives only six percent of private healthcare investment globally. This underinvestment is most acute in emerging markets where barriers to quality care are greatest—and where women building solutions remain among the least funded. UNICEF Femtech Ventures specifically targets companies registered in UNICEF programme countries, which includes Zimbabwe and most SADC nations.
The first cohort included 11 companies from eight countries across Africa and Asia. The initiative actively seeks women-led startups and young founders under 35.
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Three Investment Pillars
Pillar 1: Healthcare Access for Women and Girls
Solutions improving health outcomes across the continuum of care, from antenatal and postnatal support to newborn and child health. Priority areas include:
- Point-of-care support tools with automated data/image interpretation for frontline health workers
- Affordable tech-enabled screening tools for conditions like anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, ferritin status and thyroid function
- Platforms connecting screening, referral and follow-up while generating structured intelligence for health system planning
- Frontier health platforms supporting continuity of care across the maternal health continuum, including remote care in low-bandwidth environments
- Demand forecasting and supply planning tools for maternal and child health supplies
Pillar 2: Informed, Safe and Accessible Reproductive Health
Solutions giving women and girls access to information, tools and services for sexual and reproductive health, particularly where limited by stigma, distance, cost or restricted mobility:
- AI-powered platforms delivering personalized reproductive health information in underserved languages, for low-literacy and low-bandwidth environments
- Community health worker platforms extending SRHR services through interoperable digital tools
- Frontier technology for HPV detection, screening and prevention service delivery in low-resource settings
- Tech-enabled platforms facilitating access to finance for sexual and reproductive healthcare
- Consent- and privacy-preserving data solutions for sensitive reproductive health information
Pillar 3: Mental Wellbeing, Safety and Protection
Innovations addressing psychological, emotional and digital safety needs, including gender-based violence, online harm, trauma response, and maternal and adolescent mental health:
- Digital mental health tools providing culturally appropriate psychosocial support, especially interoperable solutions integrating maternal mental health screening into systems like DHIS2
- Digital decision-support tools for community health workers to identify risks and deliver evidence-based interventions
- AI-enabled platforms for early detection of and response to gender-based violence with safe reporting mechanisms
- Online safety tools identifying, flagging and responding to digital abuse, harassment and exploitation
- Community-level tools training frontline workers to identify risks and respond to mental health needs
Eligibility Requirements
Companies must meet the following criteria:
- Registered in a UNICEF programme country (Zimbabwe and SADC countries qualify)
- Working with a functional prototype—not just concept stage
- Committed to open-source licensing and principles
- Using frontier technologies: AI, machine learning, blockchain, data science, generative AI, or agentic AI
Strongly encouraged to apply: Women-led startups and founders under 35.
Particular interest in: Solutions ready to deploy in low-resource or emergency settings.
What Recipients Receive
- Up to US$100,000 in equity-free funding
- 12 months of technical mentorship
- Access to UNICEF’s global network, including government relationships to set solutions on pathways to scale
- Portfolio membership in Femtech Ventures
Safety-by-Design Requirements
UNICEF requires safety-by-design as a condition of investment. Companies receive support to consider data privacy, consent architecture and user risk from the ground up.
Application Process
The application is submitted through UNICEF’s online portal. Key steps:
- Review eligibility criteria and investment pillars
- Prepare documentation demonstrating functional prototype and open-source commitment
- Submit application before deadline
- UNICEF evaluates applications against technical criteria and strategic fit
- Selected companies undergo due diligence before final investment decision
UNICEF provides resources on the funding process, eligibility criteria, and what happens after investment on its website.
Strategic Context
The global femtech market is projected to reach US$146 billion by 2033. Femtech Ventures creates space for locally developed solutions from emerging markets to shape this rapidly growing sector while addressing persistent gaps in women’s and girls’ health.
The initiative is supported by partners including the Government of Sweden, GSR Foundation and Temasek Foundation.
About UNICEF Venture Fund
Since 2014, the Venture Fund has invested in 102 early-stage companies, more than half women-led. These companies have attracted 11x the initial capital in follow-on investment. Through 2030, the Venture Fund focuses on open source, tech for impact in three strategic areas: blockchain, climate and femtech.
Official scholarship page: https://www.unicef.org/innovation/FemTechCall
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships