Ford Community Resiliency Student Challenge 2026
Summary
The Ford Community Resiliency Student Challenge 2026 is a global initiative delivered in partnership with Ford Philanthropy, Resolution Project, and Enactus, engaging undergraduate students across six countries including South Africa.
The programme empowers students to develop and implement practical solutions that strengthen disaster preparedness, disaster response and recovery, community resilience, and access to essential services, while building future-of-work skills and real-world enterprise experience.
Enactus DUT member and Myco Feeds founder Thokozani inspects growing mushrooms during field trials.
Overview
The Ford Community Resiliency Student Challenge 2026 is delivered as part of a global programme engaging Enactus teams across six countries through shared online training, collaboration, and development support focused on community resilience and essential services.
South African teams participate in the same global learning journey while following a locally tailored selection and mentorship process. Participants move beyond ideas to develop Minimum Viable Product (MVP) solutions with tangible community impact through structured problem identification, solution refinement, and prototype development.
In South Africa, the Top 10 teams will receive additional coaching and mentorship from Ford South Africa executives to strengthen their solutions, improve solution–market fit, and enhance implementation readiness. Teams will then participate in video pitch sessions to select the Top 5 finalists.
Finalist teams will refine their solutions further through expert feedback and enterprise development support before pitching directly to Ford executives. The Top 3 teams will be selected for grant funding based on innovation, impact, and feasibility.
Eligibility Requirements
- Open to registered Enactus teams in South Africa
- Projects must be at Prototype or Market stage (idea-stage submissions will not be accepted)
- Solutions must address one or more of the following focus areas:
- Disaster preparedness
- Disaster response and recovery
- Community resilience
- Access to essential services
- Enterprises must not have previously received Ford funding
- Teams must commit to full participation in coaching, mentorship, and pitching sessions
- Projects must demonstrate measurable outcomes and community impact within the programme period
Funding Stages
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Top 10 Teams: Receive a grant of R12,000 along with coaching and mentorship from Ford South Africa executives to refine and strengthen their solutions.
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Top 5 Teams: Selected through a final round of competition to pitch their solutions to Ford Motor Company executives.
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Top 3 Teams: Awarded grant funding (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) to accelerate their MVPs and ensure tangible progress and implementation.
Commitment Clause
Acceptance of programme funding constitutes a contractual obligation. Teams must comply with all programme requirements, reporting standards, and timelines. Failure to meet these obligations may result in withdrawal of funding and disqualification from future Enactus opportunities.