The HiiL Justice Accelerator, together with the Ford Foundation, has announced the 36 finalists for its Innovating Justice Challenge, which will showcase SME empowerment and family justice solutions in the East and West African region.s
Disrupt Africa reported in May applications had opened for the second edition of the challenge, from which the winners of each category will walk away with EUR80,000 (US$91,000). Non-profit legal research and advisory firm HiiL held the challenge for the first time last year, with Nigerian company DIYlaw walking away with US$40,000 in prize money.
The finalists include Nigerian Anthony Rhodes, Moh Ni Bah from Ivory Coast, Ghana’s Just Land, the Nigerian initiative New Voices Sustain Community Based Paralegal and Village Mediators, Insurance Manager App from Nigeria, and Ghana’s SwiftLaw.
Six Kenyans also make the list, namely Baraza, Famalia, KnownAfrique Law App, Sauti, FarmingBay and Uwakili,
Finalists – chosen from over 400 applicants – will now take part in challenge-closing Boostcamps on September 23 in Nairobi and September 29 in Lagos, where they will pitch in front of a jury for the funding.
The Innovating Justice Boostcamp will also feature keynote addresses followed by panel discussions, pitches and interactive working sessions bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, civil society, justice professionals and academia.
HiiL recently launched its Innovating Justice Hub in Lagos, Nigeria, providing a working space for entrepreneurs and technology innovators to meet and find solutions to issues surrounding justice, and is also exploring establishing a similar hub in Nairobi, Kenya.
