The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) has inaugurated the In-Country YouthADAPT Demo Day events under the African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), marking a major milestone in empowering young climate innovators across five African nations to compete for funding and long-term capacity-building support.
Over the next several weeks, youth-led enterprises from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Nigeria will showcase their climate adaptation innovations before panels of investors, development partners, and industry experts. From these national showcases, ten outstanding enterprises—two from each country—will be selected to receive $30,000 in grants and participate in a year-long accelerator and mentorship program designed to transform their ventures into scalable, investment-ready businesses.
This initiative tackles one of Africa’s enduring obstacles: the lack of financial access for youth-driven enterprises addressing climate change impacts. By connecting young innovators to national and regional investors, the Demo Days seek to close the funding gap that often prevents promising adaptation solutions from advancing beyond the pilot phase.
The participating ventures operate across vital sectors for Africa’s climate resilience, such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, water management, early warning systems, and climate-smart infrastructure. These areas represent growing opportunities where micro, small, and emerging businesses are increasingly shaping adaptation strategies but remain constrained by limited resources and exposure.
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Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, emphasized that Africa’s youth must be recognized as central to climate action. “Africa’s young people are not merely victims of the climate crisis—they are the architects of innovative solutions,” he said. “Through YouthADAPT, we are transforming local ingenuity into viable enterprises that advance national climate priorities, strengthen food systems, and generate employment. We urge banks, DFIs, and private investors to join us in this mission ahead of COP30 and beyond.”
Echoing this sentiment, Joseph Murabula, CEO of the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, highlighted the importance of tangible empowerment. “Africa’s greatest strength lies in its young innovators,” he stated. “Through the In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge, we are equipping them with the essential tools—funding, mentorship, and market access—to drive climate resilience and foster inclusive economic growth.”
The Demo Day series will culminate in the final selection and investment announcements during COP30 in Brazil in November 2025, where the ten top-performing youth-led enterprises will gain international recognition. For Africa’s emerging climate economy, this initiative represents more than just a contest—it is a strategic movement to unlock entrepreneurship, stimulate job creation, and scale locally grounded adaptation solutions.
As climate threats escalate, programs like YouthADAPT are proving crucial in providing Africa’s youth and MSMEs with the visibility, financial support, and leadership platforms needed to shape a sustainable and resilient future.
