Africa’s future depends on how well its communities adapt to the growing effects of climate change, and young innovators are stepping up to shape that future. The Hack-a-GreenFuture Hackathon 2025, set for October 24 to 26 at the timbuktoo GreenTech Hub in Konza Technopolis, Kenya, is designed to empower youth to create practical solutions that blend technology with climate resilience. The three-day event will not only bring bright ideas together but also set a new direction for how counties and communities across Kenya can embrace digital solutions for green growth.
This hackathon is more than just a competition. It is a collaborative platform where startups, students, entrepreneurs, researchers, private sector leaders, development partners and county governments will co-create scalable solutions that directly respond to local climate challenges. Hosted in partnership with UNDP, the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, Konza Technopolis and the county governments of Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado, it reflects the belief that Africa’s talent and creativity can accelerate the green transition. By focusing on technology-enabled climate resilience solutions, the event makes a clear statement: the fight against climate change must be innovative, inclusive and driven by the next generation.
Real Challenges, Real Opportunities
At the heart of Hack-a-GreenFuture is the opportunity to tackle real challenges facing communities. Participants will work on one open challenge and three county-specific challenges. The open challenge calls on teams to design affordable digital systems that can transform fragmented climate data into timely, localized insights, so that people on the ground can make better decisions about resilience and adaptation by 2030. For the county challenges, Kajiado will focus on finding solutions to control and eliminate the invasive ipomoea weed that threatens pastureland and livestock feed. Makueni will look at how to connect farmers to reliable markets using technology, reducing post-harvest losses and increasing incomes. Machakos will challenge teams to design digital systems that link waste generators, aggregators and users, so that household and agricultural waste can be reused, recycled and repurposed for greener livelihoods.
The hackathon is open to youth aged 18 to 35, with a special emphasis on multidisciplinary teams of three to five people who bring together technical expertise, business skills and local community knowledge. Women innovators, persons with disabilities and young people from arid, semi-arid lands and informal settlements are strongly encouraged to apply. This inclusivity is central to the event, ensuring that solutions are not only innovative but also reflect the diverse realities of those most affected by climate shocks.
Skills, Mentorship and Real-World Impact
Beyond the competition itself, the hackathon offers unique opportunities for participants. Selected teams will receive experimentation support, working with county governments to test their solutions in real-world settings. Organizers will procure tools, services and resources needed for deployment, making sure that ideas can move beyond the prototype stage. Mentorship is another key part of the experience, with experts in climate, entrepreneurship, policy and technology guiding participants as they shape their projects. Networking opportunities with investors, policymakers and development partners will further connect teams to the wider ecosystem of climate innovation.
Workshops on design thinking, pitching and prototyping will strengthen participants’ skills, helping them translate concepts into market-ready solutions. Visibility is also built into the program, with innovators gaining platforms to showcase their work to the media and potential partners. This holistic support system reflects the understanding that innovation thrives when young people are given the tools, mentorship and networks they need to succeed.
Applications for Hack-a-GreenFuture 2025 opened on September 30 and will close on October 12. Selected participants will be notified by October 17, giving them time to prepare for the three-day hackathon. The evaluation criteria will look at how relevant and actionable each idea is, its level of innovation, the potential impact on communities and ecosystems and how inclusive and diverse the team is. Importantly, intellectual property will remain with the innovators themselves. While the organizers will showcase and promote solutions, all ideas and ownership stay with the teams.
Instead of cash prizes, selected solutions will receive in-kind acceleration support. This includes direct linkages with county governments, resources to test prototypes and opportunities to deploy solutions in real contexts. While participation does not guarantee future funding, the chance to pilot projects in collaboration with local authorities provides an invaluable step forward for many young innovators.
Hack-a-GreenFuture 2025 gives young innovators the tools, mentorship and networks to turn their climate-smart ideas into real solutions. By connecting technology with local challenges, the hackathon empowers youth to build skills, create impact and contribute directly to Africa’s green transition.
