CALL FOR PROJECT IDEAS: ITU REGIONAL INITIATIVE ACCELERATOR – INNOVATION

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) invites stakeholders to submit project ideas to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) under its Regional Initiative Accelerator (RIA). This call focuses on innovation.

The call is open to stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, innovators, start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other relevant organisations.

The RIA is designed to accelerate the implementation of ITU approved Regional Initiatives for 2026–2029 through the development of practical, sustainable and investment ready projects. It aims to bring together stakeholders to identify emerging challenges, develop innovative solutions and mobilise partnerships and resources for implementation.

Areas of Focus

Project proposals should align with the relevant ITU Regional Initiatives on innovation, particularly:

Development of digital applications, MSMEs and digital innovation ecosystems.
Sustainable funding mechanisms for Africa’s digital transformation.
Support for innovative digital ecosystems and the adoption and use of emerging technologies.
Enabling innovation, investment and sustainability in the ICT sector.

Submission Requirements

Interested organisations are encouraged to submit project ideas that:

Clearly identify a problem linked to the expected outcomes of an applicable ITU Regional Initiative.

Demonstrate the relevance, originality, viability and potential impact of the proposed solution.
Outline the resources and stakeholder partnerships required for implementation.
Demonstrate initial commitment and capacity to advance the proposed project.
Explain how the project will be sustained beyond its implementation period.

Submission Deadline and Procedure

Interested organisations should complete the prescribed ITU Project Idea Submission Form and submit their proposals in English via email to bdtinnovation@itu.int no later than 15 November 2026.

Only one submission per organisation is permitted.

Project ideas will be evaluated based on originality, relevance, sustainability, viability, impact and stakeholder engagement. Selected project teams will be invited to participate in co-design workshops to further develop their proposals into implementation-ready projects.

Co-design Workshop

Selected project teams from Africa, the Arab States and Europe will be invited to a co-design workshop scheduled to take place in Lilongwe, Malawi, from 2 to 4 December 2026. The workshop will be hosted by MACRA and Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), with support from the ITU and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) of China.

Further Information

For further information, interested organisations may contact the ITU focal point, Mr Mohamed Ba, via

Mohamed.Ba@itu.int, copying bdtinnovation@itu.int.

The full details of the Regional Initiative Accelerator and the application process are available on the ITU website:

https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Innovation/Pages/RIA/Regional-Initiative-Accelerator.aspx

MACRA encourages eligible stakeholders to take advantage of this opportunity to develop innovative solutions that advance Malawi’s digital transformation and contribute to Africa’s digital development.

6th November, 2026

Signed

Mayamiko Nkoloma, PhD

MACRA DIRECTOR GENERAL

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