As climate change continues to exert growing pressure on Africa’s ecosystems, economies, and communities, the demand for scalable, local solutions has never been greater. To help address these challenges, the In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge 2025 is now inviting youth-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and innovators to submit their ideas that advance climate adaptation and resilience on the continent. The initiative is part of the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), a collaborative effort by the Global Center on Adaptation, the African Development Bank, and the African Union.
Program Overview
Driving Climate Resilience in Africa
The In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge seeks transformative, context-specific solutions that tackle climate-related challenges in agriculture and infrastructure. Emphasizing digital tools, green technology, and community-driven approaches, the challenge is open to young African entrepreneurs across five key countries:
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Tanzania
This call focuses on fostering innovations that are not only effective in mitigating climate impacts but are also commercially viable and scalable.
Country Spotlight: Ghana’s Tree Crop Sector
In Ghana, the challenge emphasizes the vulnerability of the nation’s vital tree crop value chains—cocoa, cashew, shea, coconut, oil palm, mango, and rubber. These sectors are increasingly susceptible to climate stressors such as water shortages, rising temperatures, and shifting growing zones.
Focus Areas for Agricultural Innovation in Ghana:
- Incremental Adaptation: Techniques like water conservation and canopy management in high-risk zones.
- Systemic Resilience: Agroforestry systems, resilient irrigation methods, and enhanced crop varieties.
- Transformational Change: Enabling livelihood shifts and crop diversification in regions no longer agriculturally viable.
- Technical Interventions:
- Rainwater harvesting infrastructure
- Efficient irrigation models (e.g., drip systems)
- Adaptive drainage for both wet and dry conditions
- Drought-resistant, climate-specific crop strains
- Climate-responsive planting schedules
- Early warning systems and farmer education programs
- Hyper-local weather and decision-support tools
Program Benefits
Participants selected for the In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge will receive multi-faceted support designed to fast-track their solutions to implementation and scale:
- Innovation Funding: Up to $30,000 in funding per enterprise, coupled with expert mentorship.
- Pitch Opportunities: Access to a national-level Dragon’s Den-style event to showcase solutions to investors and partners.
- Accelerated Growth Program: A 12-month support cycle including technical workshops, milestone tracking, and strategic assistance.
- Networking: Connections with pan-African investors, potential partners, and a broader climate entrepreneurship network.
- Scale-Up Assistance: Guidance on market expansion, partnerships, and follow-on investment avenues.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following conditions to be considered for the challenge:
- Age Range: Entrepreneurs must be between 18 and 35 years old.
- Legal Status: The business must be legally registered in an African country.
- Revenue History: The venture must demonstrate revenue generation over at least two years.
- Business Plan: A well-defined, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) business plan focused on climate adaptation.
- Impact Focus: Solutions must show measurable impact in either food security or infrastructure resilience.
- Geographic Priority: Preference will be given to applicants from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
Application Process
Applicants will need to complete a structured application composed of five sections:
- Personal Information – Eligibility and background details.
- Business Information – Company profile and operational history.
- Climate Adaptation Solution – Innovation description and intended impact.
- Financial Information – Business finances and funding needs.
- Support Requirements – Specific areas where assistance is needed.
Applicants are encouraged to prepare responses in advance for a smooth submission process.
Application Deadline
Application Deadline: 04 August 2025
All interested applicants must ensure their submissions are completed by this date. Late applications will not be considered.
Part of a Larger Vision
This challenge is embedded within the African Adaptation Acceleration Program, which aims to mobilize $25 billion to advance innovative climate adaptation across the continent. A core pillar of the program focuses on Youth Entrepreneurship and Adaptation Jobs, working to empower young Africans to lead the continent’s transition toward resilience and sustainable development.
The In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge 2025 presents a unique opportunity for young African entrepreneurs to contribute meaningfully to climate adaptation efforts while advancing their ventures. With a focus on localized impact, strategic support, and scalable innovation, this initiative seeks to harness youth potential for a more climate-resilient Africa.
For further information and application details, interested parties are encouraged to visit the official application platform before the deadline of 04 August 2025.