BACKGROUND

South Africa faces escalating risks from floods, droughts, wildfires, pandemics, cyber-attacks, and technological disasters, driven by climate change and deep socio-economic vulnerabilities. Recent disasters, such as the Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape floods, have exposed weaknesses in early warning, coordination, and resilience-building. There is a critical need to move from reactive crisis response to proactive, innovation-led disaster governance.

PURPOSE OF THE CALL

The purpose of the Call is to invite applications for funding. This will include a selected number of technologies that address immediate needs, while also identifying and capturing additional technologies for inclusion in a database for future use. This call seeks market-ready, scalable, and context-appropriate technologies that can strengthen South Africa’s disaster management system across all phases: risk assessment and early warning, preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience/mitigation.

Solutions must integrate science, technology, and innovation (STI) with social and behavioural sciences to ensure uptake, trust, and equity.

WHO IS ELIGIBILE TO APPLY?

• South African SMMEs, start-ups, non-profits, research institutions, and community-based organisations.

• Solutions must be commercially ready or at advanced pilot stage.

• Preference for technologies developed for African conditions and adaptable to local environments.

Closing Date: 09 February 2026 @ 17:00