World Bank Group GovTech Innovation Challenge 2025 (Deadline: 12 September, 2025)

Applications are open for the World Bank Group GovTech Innovation Challenge 2025. The GovTech Innovation Challenge is a pilot programme connecting government partners with innovative technology companies to address critical public sector challenges. This initiative mobilises startups and SMEs to develop practical solutions that enhance government efficiency, transparency, and citizen services through digital transformation.

This inaugural challenge partners the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) with global technology firms to develop solutions for tax administration challenges in Ghana. Three selected companies will participate in a development programme designed to in functional prototypes and potential implementation pathways.

The Innovation Challenge is a joint initiative of the World Bank, Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and Trust Valley (operated by EPFL Innovation Park Foundation). This programme is supported by the World Bank Trust Fund “Governance & Institutions Umbrella Program”.

Challenge Details

This Year’s Challenge: Improving Tax Resource Mobilization in Ghana.

Ghana faces challenges in raising sufficient domestic revenue to improve public services and infrastructure, despite strong public support for taxation. The country seeks innovative, accessible tax solutions to boost tax administration and expand the government’s capacity to serve its citizens effectively.

Benefits

• World Bank Partnership: Get exposure to public sector clients having support from the World Bank
• GovTech Capacity Building: Get executive level training in Switzerland on key public-private collaboration aspects
• Public Sector Engagement: Design proof of concept for specific tax administration issues with Ghana Revenue Authority

Eligibility

Open to early-stage startups, scale-ups, and SMEs that:

• Are legally incorporated;
• Have fewer than 75 employees;
• Have under $5M USD in annual revenue;
• Possess technical, operational, and business expertise relevant to the challenge;
• Have the capacity to actively participate in challenge activities.

Application

In addition to completing the mandatory form questions, proposal teams are invited to include a comprehensive technical proposal document (PDF, max 10MB) following the structure:

• Executive summary
• Technical solution
• Implementation plan
• Innovation & differentiation aspect
• Risk management
• Team & expertise
• Success metrics & impacts
• Additional resources

Deadline: September 12, 2025

For more information, visit GovTech Innovation Challenge.