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Climate Action Innovation Hub 2025: Calls for Applications

Background and context

The African Union Commission (AUC) launched the Climate Action Innovation Hub at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi in September 2023. This initiative created a dynamic platform for showcasing African-led innovations that support climate adaptation, resilience, and low-emission development. The pilot phase attracted over 2,000 applications from mainly African youth, of which 70 innovators were selected to present their initiatives at the African Climate Summit. This demonstrated not only the scale of innovation across the continent but also the unmet demand for technical and financial support. See the highlights of the first Climate Action Innovation Hub here.

Building on this momentum, the African Union is implementing a second phase of the Innovation Hub to be hosted at the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa from 8-10 September 2025. The target groups are African youth and women. This next phase seeks to scale up the initiative, expand geographical coverage, and deepen technical support. Crucially, it will contribute to the implementation of the African Union’s Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2032), particularly its strategic objectives focused on innovation, inclusive growth, and climate resilience.


How to apply

Interested individuals should apply by filling out the form below.

Applications are open both to those who participated in the first Climate Action Innovation Hub and to new applicants.


Deadline

Applications close on 01 August 2025. No late applications will be considered.

What support will selected applicants receive?

The project aims to support 50-70 applicants to attend the second Climate Action Innovation Hub at the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa from 8-10 September 2025 (applicants must be available to travel from 7-11 September). Selected candidates will receive logistical support: flights and local travel within Addis, meals, accommodation and visa, if necessary, to attend the Summit. Applicants will receive orientation and training in advance of, and during, the Summit. The African Union has the ambition to provide further capacity building and matching support to help innovators scale their initiatives. However, it should be noted that no direct financing beyond the necessary costs for attendance of the Innovation Hub can be guaranteed.


Testimonials from the first Climate Action Innovation Hub

Sheila Moor is an innovator from Nigeria. Her business, FreshFare, revolves around cold chain logistics, ensuring that perishable agro-products move safely, efficiently and sustainably from farm to market, reducing spoilage and food waste, as well as reducing emissions. Sheila says:

“The Innovation Hub gave me a platform to meet other innovators, and I was able to create strong and lifelong friendships. Attending the Africa Climate Summit with other innovators gave me a confidence boost, increasing my zeal to move forward.”

Abel Hailegiorgisfrom Ethiopia is the founder of Bamboo Labs. His company promotes mobility through the use of sustainable and affordable bamboo. Abel says:

“The 2023 African Climate Innovation Hub was a powerful catalyst for growth and collaboration. It connected us with like-minded entrepreneurs, experts, and investors committed to climate solutions.”
1.Did you participate in the 2023 Africa Climate Innovation Hub?(Required.)
2.Name of applicant(Required.)
3.Email address(Required.)
4.Nationality(Required.)
5.Age(Required.)
6.Name of organisation or business:(Required.)
7.Website (if available):(Required.)
8.Name(s) of country or countries where your climate innovation is located:(Required.)
9.Please select the pathway of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032) to which your climate action applies (if more than one pathway, select the most relevant only). Please refer to Strategic Axis 2 of the AU Climate Strategy. Full document here(Required.)
10.Please give a short description of your ‘climate action’ innovation. What is it, and who does it target? (Please limit to 300 words maximum)(Required.)
11.Why should this innovation be scaled out to more people? Please describe the impacts you have seen already, specifically mentioning the contributions the innovation is making to adapting to or mitigating climate change. (Please limit to 300 words maximum)(Required.)
12.At which stage is your innovation?(Required.)
13.Have you received any external funding? If so, how much, when and from which sources? (Please limit to 300 words maximum)(Required.)
14.Who are the strategic partners or collaborators involved in your innovation's development and distribution?(Required.)
15.How much revenue has your initiative generated in the past 6 months?(Required.)
16.Do you have paying customers?(Required.)
17.If yes to question 16 above, how many customers do you have?(Required.)
18.Please tell us how you are measuring your innovation's impact, i.e., reduction in carbon emissions/ environmental impact in numbers/ number of people capacitated, etc. What have you achieved thus far? (Please limit to 300 words maximum)(Required.)
19.Do you have any employees?(Required.)
20.If yes to question 19 above, how many employees do you have (please specify part-time / full-time)?(Required.)
21.If your innovation includes specific efforts to promote inclusion, especially as it relates to gender and youth, please provide details.(Required.)
22.If selected, would you be willing to make a presentation/pitch about your innovation at the Innovation Hub at the Africa Climate Summit?(Required.)
23.Are you available to travel to Ethiopia for the 2nd Africa Climate Summit? (If your application is successful, dates will be confirmed with you, but travel is expected between 7-11 September 2025).(Required.)
24.Do you have a valid passport that allows you to travel to Ethiopia? Is there anything prohibiting your travel to Ethiopia?(Required.)