The African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) invites application from youth-led MSMEs and innovators to join the 2025 In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge aimed at driving climate adaptation and resilience across Africa.
The African Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) is a joint initiative between the Global Center on Adaptation, the African Development Bank, and the African Union, aiming to increase climate finance for Africa by mobilizing $25 billion. The program focuses on scaling up innovative and transformative actions on climate change adaptation across Africa.
Challenge Statement: Climate Adaptation Solutions for West African Countries
West African Country\’s key agricultural value chains cocoa, cashew, shea, coconut, oil palm, mango, and rubber are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, water stress, and shifting ecological zones threaten crop productivity and rural livelihoods.
We are calling on younth-led MSMEs, agri-tech innovators, and MSMEs to design and scale climate adaptation solutions that respond to crop specific climate risks and unlock new agricultural opportunities.
In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge 2025
The In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge is a flagship program under AAAP, designed to identify, support, and accelerate promising youth-led climate adaptation solutions across Africa. Here\’s what you need to know:
Key Highlights
- Empowering Young Entrepreneurs: The program aims to unlock the potential of young people in Africa to drive climate resilience and green enterprises.
- Climate Adaptation Solutions: Focuses on solutions in two key sectors:
- Food Security: Agriculture, aquaculture, and food processing
- Infrastructure: Water management, renewable energy, and climate-resilient construction
- Funding and Support: Up to $30,000 in funding, plus dedicated mentorship from industry experts, and a 12-month comprehensive program with workshops, technical assistance, and milestone-based support.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age Requirement: Entrepreneurs must be between 18-35 years old
- Business Registration: Businesses must be legally registered to operate in an African country
- Revenue Generation: Businesses must have generated revenues over a minimum two-year period
- Business Plan: Must have a SMART business plan for climate adaptation solutions
- Impact Focus: Businesses must demonstrate direct impact in food security or infrastructure
Benefits of In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge
- Innovation Support: Up to $30,000 in funding plus dedicated mentorship from industry experts
- Dragon\’s Den Pitch Event: Exclusive platform to present solutions to investors, partners, and stakeholders
- Accelerated Growth: 12-month comprehensive program with workshops, technical assistance, and milestone-based support
- Networking Opportunities: Access to exclusive investor networks, partnership opportunities, and connections with fellow climate entrepreneurs
- Investment Connections: Direct access to partner investor network and opportunities for follow-on funding
- Scale-Up Support: Comprehensive scaling assistance including strategic partnerships, market expansion guidance, and access to follow-on investment opportunities
Focus Countries
The 2025 In-Country YouthADAPT Challenge is available only to the following eligibly focus Countries:
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Tanzania
Application Process
- Submit an online application with business plan, financial statements, and impact metrics
- Review process, virtual interviews, and final selection
- Application deadline: August 4, 2025 (previously mentioned), however, another source indicates August 18, 2025; it\’s best to verify the deadline through official channels
Program Goals
The AAAP aims to unlock the potential of young people in Africa to drive climate resilience and green enterprises by empowering young entrepreneurs and scaling their adaptation businesses. The program specifically focuses on climate adaptation solutions in two key sectors:
- Food Security: Agriculture, aquaculture, and food processing
- Infrastructure: Water management, renewable energy, and climate-resilient construction
How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and have a climate adaptation solution focused on food security or infrastructure, you can Start Your Application here: https://incountryouthadapt.kenyacic.org/
For more information and to apply, visit the official website: gca.org/youthadapt or https://www.kenyacic.org/
