Green Innovation Challenge For Young Africans Launched

Jacob’s Ladder Africa, a non-governmental organization, recently launched the greenLabs Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge aimed at empowering young innovators, and entrepreneurs to tackle pressing climate change and energy access challenges in Kenya.

The Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge targets youth aged 20-25 attracted over 250 applicants. Selected applicants will be empowered to develop their ideas further, contributing to a brighter future for Kenyan communities.

“We anticipate participants to propose scalable solutions that not only address immediate pressing challenges, but also contribute to longer-term sustainable economic growth and social development, evidenced in job creation, improved incomes, or advancement of existing technologies. Participants will receive mentorship from experienced professionals and academicians, guiding them through the complexities of their projects and providing invaluable insights.” Karen Chelangat, Chief Innovation Officer at Jacob’s Ladder, stated in an interview with CIO Africa.

She added: “We made a special effort to recruit female applicants, recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation. We are excited that this resulted in a 5x increase in the number of females registering interest in the innovation challenge, and trust that a number of these will continue on the startup journey through our incubation program.”

Kenya grapples with numerous challenges stemming from climate change and limited energy access. As identified by Chelangat, these challenges include climate variability, resource scarcity, inadequate access to clean cooking technologies posing health and environmental risks, particularly in rural areas, and wastage of time, resources, and harvests due to a lack or insufficiency of energy access in crucial sectors like transport, logistics, and distribution systems.

The Challenge aims to be a catalyst for innovation challenges by providing a platform for these young minds to showcase their talent, receive mentorship, and collaborate. It seeks to catalyse the development of transformative solutions that benefit Kenyan communities and potentially extend beyond, while also creating jobs.