ClimAfrica Innovation Challenge 2025

Smart Solutions for Climate Resilience and Early Warning

From Ideas to Impact: Tech & Data Innovation for Climate Resilience and Early Warning in Africa

Introduction and Background

As climate risks intensify across the African continent, the need for locally adapted, scalable, and innovative solutions to strengthen resilience and early warning systems has never been more urgent. From agriculture to health, energy to urban systems, climate change is affecting all key socio-economic sectors—often with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations.

The ClimAfrica Forum 2025 – Skylabs Edition, hosted by the General Directorate of Meteorology of Morocco and sponsored by the EU Global Gateway strategy and its project “Strengthening Early Warning in Africa” implemented by ECMWF, aims to serve as a continental platform for action, dialogue, and innovation. As part of this initiative, a dedicated Start-up & Innovation Competition will spotlight the creativity and ingenuity of young African innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing smart solutions to enhance climate resilience and early warning systems across the continent.

Under the theme “From Ideas to Impact: Tech & Data Innovation for Climate Resilience and Early Warning in Africa”, the competition invites applicants to present technological, digital, organizational, or data-driven solutions that can help anticipate climate risks, inform decision-making, and protect lives and livelihoods in Africa’s most critical sectors:
🌾 Agriculture | 💧 Water | 🏥 Health | ⚡ Energy | 🏙️ Infrastructure & Urban Systems

This competition reflects the vision of ClimAfrica: to empower homegrown innovation, elevate youth voices, and connect smart ideas with institutions and investors who can help bring them to scale.

In 2025 the competition is sponsored by Strengthening Early Warning in Arica (SEWA), a component of the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme under the EU Global Gateway strategy which focusses on enhancing the capacity to produce and deliver space-based services and applications, data, and information for early warning systems (EWS) related to hazardous weather and climate events as well as to foster sustainable development, a green transition, and digitalization. One of the core implementing partners of SEWA is the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) – Innovation Partner of the ClimAfrica Forum 2025.

Objectives of the Competition

The main objectives of the competition are to:
  • Identify and support innovative, scalable, and locally adapted solutions that strengthen climate resilience and early warning capacities in Africa
  • Encourage youth participation and entrepreneurship in addressing climate-related risks
  • Connect innovators with policymakers, donors, and institutions that can help amplify their impact
  • Promote collaboration between scientific research, technology, and operational climate services
  • Highlight African leadership in climate innovation and foster cross-sectoral dialogue

In recognition that this competition is sponsored by “Strengthening Early Warning in Africa”, prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

  • Weather and climate-induced early warning services and tools;
  • Demonstration of the use of ECMWF NWP, Copernicus and/or DestinE data;
  • Developments on impact-based forecast services and tools;
  • Applications on the use of Cloud services, AI/ML and other digital infrastructure in scope of early warning;
  • Enhancement of partnerships between African and European communities on the application of NWP data for early warning activities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:
  • Be based in Africa (individuals or teams from startups, research labs, NGOs, or academic institutions)
  • Be between 18 and 40 years old (for team applications, at least one key team member must meet this age requirement)
  • Propose a tech- or data-driven solution that contributes to climate resilience and/or early warning systems in one or more of the following key sectors: SystemsAgriculture, Water, Health, Energy, Infrastructure, Urban Systems
  • The solution may be a prototype, a pilot project, or already in deployment
  • Submissions may be in English or French

Selection Process

The competition will follow a three-stage selection process:
Phase 1 – Online Application and Pre-selection
  • Applications will be received in the online portal from 20th August 2025
  • Last day for submission of applications is 9th September 2025.
  • The jury will pre-select 5 finalists per category (total of 25 finalists) directly online, based on the defined evaluation criteria.
  • 25 finalists will pitch their solutions to the jury in on 15th September, 2025
  • Jury will select 5 winners, and they will be flown to ClimAfrica 2025 to present their solutions and receive their cash cheques.
Phase 2 – Pitch Day at ClimAfrica Forum (Day 1)
  • The 5 winners will present their solution before an audience. This session will be promoted as ‘Brought to you by ECMWF’
Phase 3 – Awards (Day 2)
  • Jury will select 5 winners, and they will be flown to ClimAfrica 2025 to present their solutions and receive their cash cheques of EUR 1,000 each.

Awards and Recognition

The winners will receive
  • EUR 1,000 cash prize for winner of each category
  • Visibility through official Forum communications and media outreach (also through our Innovation Partner ECMWF)
  • Access to mentorship and partnership opportunities with relevant institutions and investors
  • Free access to the ClimAfrica Forum 2025
  • Travel and accommodation costs fully covered to attend the event in Rabat, Morocco
  • Exhibition space in the Skylabs Innovation Zone
  • Networking sessions with policymakers, donors, and innovation leaders
In the case of a team, only one member representing the group will be covered for participation.

Evaluation Criteria

Projects will be evaluated based on:
  • Relevance to climate resilience and early warning
  • Fit with the categories proposed
  • Level of innovation (technological, organizational, digital, etc.)
  • Feasibility and maturity of the solution
  • Potential for impact and scalability
  • Quality of presentation and clarity of objectives
  • Alignment with local/community needs
  • Environmental and financial sustainability of the proposed solution.
Women-led teams and innovations addressing gender-specific climate impacts are strongly encouraged to apply

Timeline

  • 📢 Launch of the call for applications: 20th August, 2025
  • 📥 Deadline for submission: 9th September, 2025
  • Announcement / Shortlisting of selected projects for Online Pitch Competition : 10th September 2025
  • 🎤 Online Pitch Competition: 15th September, 2025
  • 🏆 Panel + Award Ceremony: Day 2 of ClimAfrica Forum

Submission Process

Candidates will be invited to submit their applications via competition form in Event website. 

Each application must include:
  • A written project description (max 3 pages)
  • Optional: short video presentation (max 2 min)
  • CVs or profiles of team members
  • Supporting documents (prototypes, visuals, links, etc.)

Register
ClimAfrica Innovation Challenge 2025

    CLIMAFRICA FORUM 2025 - SKYLABS EDITION

    Innovation Competition Application Form

    From Ideas to Impact: Tech & Data Innovation for Climate Resilience and Early Warning in Africa.

    Eligibility Checklist (Please answer Yes or No)

    Are you aged between 18 and 40 years old?

    Are you currently based in an African country?

    Is your solution related to climate resilience and/or early warning?

    Please Note: Only applicants who meet all three criteria are eligible to participate in the competition.

    Section 1: Applicant Information

    Team application?

    Section 2: Project Overview

    Which of the following categories does your solution adhere to

    Which sector does your project target?(Select all that apply)

    Stage of Development:(Select 1)

    Section 3: Supporting Materials (optional)

    Declaration

    I confirm that the information provided is accurate and that I agree to the terms of the competition.

    I authorize the organizers to contact me regarding the competition and its outcomes.

    CONTACT US

    The General Directorate of Meteorology
    Ms Meriem Alaouri
    alaouri.meriem@marocmeteo.ma

    Consensus Group
    Biju Krishnan
    biju@consensus-int.com
    Capacity Building for Meteorology & Climate Action
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