From more than a hundred innovative projects pitched by young Africans at UNFPA’s 2021 Climate HackLab, two innovative ideas for climate resilience were selected for seed funding and incubation, to turn them into viable solutions.

The projects aim to improve access to health supplies for women and girls in remote areas through low-carbon mobile clinics, empowering women and improving livelihoods.

The two winners – Agripa Maposa from Tanzania, and Agnes Kimweri from Zambia – will receive support for three to six months to kickstart their projects under the guidance of regional innovation incubation agency AfriLabs.

The HackLab attracted 111 innovative ideas from across East and Southern Africa. Of these, 40 young leaders representing 11 project ideas were put through an intensive two-week course on design thinking, business development and leadership. Nine of these ideas were pitched to a panel of judges and two were selected for four months’ innovation incubation with UNFPA’s regional partner, AfriLabs.

“UNFPA believes in offering young people the tools and skills to become change makers and to lead on innovative solutions. Our aim is to give the next generation the best possible chance of reaching that goal,” said Angela Baschieri, Population Dynamics Policy Adviser for UNFPA East and Southern Africa.