Through the African Youth Adaptation Solutions (YouthADAPT) Challenge, the AAAP aims to inspire and support the commercialisation of climate change adaptation solutions, driven by African youth entrepreneurs. The YouthADAPT Challenge is open to solutions (products, services, tools, or ideas) targeted at climate change adaptation and increasing resilience. 

Admissible solutions can represent:

• An adaptation solutions business that has not been scaled and is not in widespread use
• An existing resilience and adaptation solutions business or product
• A commercially viable means to raise awareness or scale uptake of specific adaptation solutions.

Applicants must be 18–35 years old and registered and operating in Africa. Their venture must be youth-led while delivering climate adaptation or resilience solutions addressing a real-life challenge. 50% of the finalists will be women-owned or women-led enterprises. Winners will receive a business grant of up to $100,000 and the opportunity to further develop their ventures through business support and acceleration.

The Cycle 1 (2021) winners were unveiled at COP26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom, in a ceremony held at the Africa Pavilion. They include Mumita Holdings Limited, Cameroon, Salubata Technological Innovations Limited, Nigeria, Sustainable Builders, Zambia, Global Farms and Trading Company Limited, Ghana, Miama General Dealers Limited, Zambia, Kimplanter Seedling and Nurseries Limited, Kenya, Irri Hub Ke Limited, Kenya, Soupah Farm en- Market Limited, Nigeria, Simkay Green Global Ventures, Nigeria and Bleaglee Waste Management Limited, Cameroon.

The YouthADAPT Challenge aims to support youth-led enterprises to accelerate and scale-up innovative solutions for climate adaptation and resilience that will also lead to decent jobs for youth. The solutions target key environmental, social, and economic sectors affected by climate change, with a clear value proposition to scale up for greater impact and to create specified direct jobs.

The Challenge aims to strengthen inclusive growth and broaden investment and economic opportunities for youth in Africa through entrepreneurial skills development by providing training, mentorship, and financing to youth-led businesses (50% women-owned). The first edition of the awards was launched on 06 September 2021.

• Provide a financial contribution to cover the cost of program implementation and 50% of grant funding 
• Participate in project missions and field visits to review progress with select beneficiary enterprises
• Support the project team to provide clarity on climate change adaptation and resilience in the training component, including tracking the creation of adaptation jobs
• Coordinate project monitoring and evaluation.

• The most innovative youth-owned enterprises on the continent are scaled up 
• The viability of selected businesses is improved, to help sustain their impact on climate change adaptation 
• Inclusiveness promoted through 50% of the selected businesses being led by women.
• Young innovators and MSMEs equipped with customised business development skills and resources;
• The short-term growth of youth-owned enterprises supported, with links to private equity and loan products for longer term growth. 
• Expansion of partnership, knowledge sharing, exchange and learning created through a network of youth entrepreneurs in Africa.

• Inclusive growth, investment and economic opportunities for youth are strengthened through entrepreneurial skills development;  
• Adaptation, innovation and jobs integrated and for jobs;