YouthADAPT Challenge

About this opportunity

Grants of up to $100,000 for African founders aged 18–35 running climate adaptation businesses with 2+ years of revenue. You get capital, a 12-month accelerator, and mentoring; the 2025 in-country round prioritises Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Who can apply

• Aged 18–35 at time of application
• National of an African country
• Lead or co-founder of a youth-led or youth-owned enterprise
• Business legally registered and operating in Africa
• Minimum 2 years of revenue-generating operations
• Offering a climate adaptation or climate resilience solution
• Businesses in agriculture, infrastructure, waste management, energy, or digital solutions sectors

Not eligible

• Applicants aged 36 and above
• Businesses operating outside Africa
• Unregistered or informal enterprises
• Businesses with less than 2 years of trading history

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Documents you will need

• Business registration certificate
• Financial statements or proof of revenue for the past 2 years
• Business plan describing your climate adaptation solution
• Details of your team (names, roles, ages)
• Pitch deck or summary of your innovation and scaling plans
• Evidence of impact to date (sales data, customer numbers, jobs created)

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How to apply, step by step

1. Visit the Global Center on Adaptation website and locate the YouthADAPT Challenge application portal for the current cycle
2. Prepare your business documents: registration, financial records, and a description of your climate adaptation solution
3. Complete the online application form with details of your business, team, financials, and growth plans
4. Submit your application before the closing date for your region (note: the 2025 in-country edition had priority countries; check if your country is included)
5. Wait for the selection panel to assess applications; shortlisted applicants may be invited to pitch
6. If successful, you will be notified and invited to join the 12-month accelerator programme

How applications are selected

What reviewers look for

• Demonstrate genuine climate adaptation impact—not just general sustainability or green business. Show how your solution helps communities adapt to climate risks (floods, drought, heat, etc.).
• Prove your revenue model works. Two years of actual sales or service delivery matters more than projections. Reviewers want to fund businesses already generating income.
• Show job creation clearly. State how many people you employ now and how the grant will help you hire more. The programme's core goal is adaptation jobs.
• If your team is female-led or has significant female representation, highlight this. The programme targets 50% women mainstreaming and reviews this actively.
• Detail your scaling plan. Explain what the $100,000 will fund (staff, equipment, market expansion, etc.) and how it will grow your revenue and impact in the next 12 months.

Frequently asked questions

Guide written from the official programme page on 15 October 2026. Funders change their rules, so confirm the details on the official page before you apply.

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