With the objective of spurring entrepreneurial activity in Yemen, UNDP Yemen and its local partner ROWAD Foundation launched Youth Innovation and Creativity Award Afkar 2.0 in 2014.The main objective of the award was “to mobilize youth creativity to find innovative ideas and solutions to local issues, and to create jobs for Yemeni youth through the businesses created.”

Over the last two years and since its inception, Afkar 2.0 had created a strong brand among Yemeni Youth as one of the most prominent means to get support to turn their innovative ideas into businesses. Afkar has created a wide following across the country, and it became recognizable brand. During Afkar 2.0 more than 2 million people were reached through a media campaign, more than 4,000 accounts created on the award platform, and ten winning businesses selected.

The ten winning teams went through an acceleration program where they were matched with business coaches, received further business training, and received the award money.