About

Young innovators, climate-tech startups, software developers, and data scientists across Eastern Africa are invited to apply for the Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon 2026, a regional initiative organized by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC). The hackathon aims to identify, test, and promote innovative climate-service solutions that improve the delivery, accessibility, relevance, and use of climate information across the IGAD region.

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Scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 8–10 December 2026, the event will bring together young innovators with climate experts, institutions, and potential partners to strengthen climate resilience through technology. Applications must be submitted by 6 November 2026.

About the Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon

The Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon is a regional innovation challenge designed to support youth-led solutions that strengthen climate services across the IGAD region. The initiative recognizes the growing role of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, data science, and mobile platforms in helping communities, governments, businesses, and institutions respond to climate variability and climate change.

The hackathon focuses on practical solutions that improve how climate information is developed, communicated, accessed, and used to support decision-making in sectors such as agriculture, water management, disaster risk reduction, food security, and environmental management.

Why Tthis hackathon matters

The IGAD region faces increasing climate-related challenges, including droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events that threaten livelihoods, food security, and sustainable development. Effective climate services can help people anticipate risks, make informed decisions, and take timely action.

However, climate information often does not adequately reach end users or respond to their specific needs. Challenges such as limited digital connectivity, low accessibility, language barriers, and weak engagement between climate-service providers and communities continue to reduce the effectiveness of climate services.

The hackathon seeks to address these gaps by promoting youth-driven innovations that make climate information more accessible, user-centered, and actionable.

Objectives of the Youth4Climate Services Innovation

The initiative aims to:

• Identify promising youth-led innovations that address practical challenges in the climate services value chain.
• Improve the accessibility, relevance, and usability of climate services.
• Promote meaningful youth participation in climate-service development and delivery.
• Strengthen collaboration between innovators, governments, research institutions, climate experts, and development partners.
• Generate practical lessons on how digital technologies can improve climate-service delivery and uptake.
• Create pathways for mentorship, piloting, institutional adoption, and scaling of innovative solutions.

What Types of solutions are being sought – Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon ?

Participants must demonstrate how their existing solution addresses a practical challenge in the climate services value chain. Examples include innovations that:

Climate information platforms

• Improve access to weather and climate information.
• Deliver localized climate intelligence.
• Support climate-sensitive decision-making.

Early warning systems

• Enhance disaster preparedness.
• Improve flood forecasting and drought monitoring.
• Communicate climate risks effectively.

Climate-Smart agriculture tools

• Provide weather-based farming recommendations.
• Support agricultural planning and resilience.

Environmental monitoring solutions

• Track environmental indicators and climate conditions.
• Improve resource management and sustainability planning.

Data and AI solutions

• Use artificial intelligence, machine learning, geospatial technologies, or data analytics to improve climate services.

Solutions will be evaluated based on functionality, user-centered design, accessibility, relevance, potential impact, scalability, and contribution to informed decision-making.

Who can apply for Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon ?

The hackathon targets:

• Climate-tech startups;
• Young entrepreneurs;
• Software developers;
• Data scientists;
• Environmental innovators;
• Multidisciplinary innovation teams.

Applicants must come from or be based in countries within the IGAD region.

Eligibility requirements – Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon

To qualify, applicants must:

Age requirement

• Be between 18 and 35 years old.

Geographic eligibility

• Be nationals of an IGAD Member State; or
• Be based in an IGAD Member State.

Existing climate solution

Applicants must already have:

• A climate-related digital tool;
• A climate-related platform;
• A climate-focused product; or
• Another technology-based climate solution.

The innovation must already be:

• Functional; or
• At the pilot stage.

Important restriction

Concept-only proposals, theoretical ideas, and projects without a demonstrable solution are not eligible.

What participants will gain – Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon

The hackathon offers significant opportunities for innovators to expand the reach and impact of their solutions.

Benefits include:

• Technical feedback from climate and technology experts.
• Visibility within the regional climate innovation ecosystem.
• Networking opportunities with potential partners and stakeholders.
• Potential access to mentorship, incubation, and acceleration support.
• Opportunities for piloting and institutional collaboration.
• Financial awards for outstanding innovations.

Application requirements of Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon

Applicants must submit the following information by 6 November 2026:

• A brief description of the innovation and the problem it addresses;
• An explanation of how the solution contributes to climate services;
• Information about the intended users and how their needs are addressed;
• Evidence of the solution’s development stage, such as prototypes, demonstrations, screenshots, videos, or pilot results;
• A description of the innovation’s unique features and value proposition;
• Information about the innovator or team and their skills;
• A statement on the innovation’s potential for future development and scaling.

Applications should be submitted via email to: [email protected] or fill the form of application

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