Five young African entrepreneurs have emerged among eight global finalists in the Youth Ecopreneur Awards, standing out from more than 1,500 applicants across over 120 countries. Their selection signals more than personal achievement. It highlights Africa’s growing role in building practical solutions for land restoration, clean energy, waste management and climate resilience.
The Youth Ecopreneur Awards are a key part of the Youth Ecopreneur Programme, a joint initiative by the International Trade Centre and the UNCCD G20 Global Land Initiative. The programme is designed to identify and support young entrepreneurs developing sustainable business models that respond to environmental challenges while creating jobs and economic opportunity.
From the 1,500 proposals submitted worldwide, 225 entrepreneurs were selected to join the YECO Bootcamp, where they received practical tools, expert guidance and peer collaboration. In December, 25 of them advanced to the YECO Accelerator, an intensive stage that prepared them to pitch their businesses to a jury of experts. After this process, eight finalists were chosen to move forward to the final stage, the Youth Ecopreneur Awards, which will take place at ChangeNOW in Paris on 31 March 2026.
Out of the eight finalists, five are from Africa.
African Finalists Driving Land Restoration and Green Business
The finalists were selected across two categories: Land Restoration and Green Business. In both categories, African entrepreneurs are strongly represented.
In the Land Restoration category, two of the finalists are from Africa.
Margaret Wanjiru from Kenya leads POLLEN PATROLLERS, an all women founded startup that uses IoT enabled smart beehives, AI and smart sensors to improve pollination, crop yields and biodiversity. The company supports beekeepers to maintain healthy bee colonies and offers precision pollination services to small scale farmers. By combining technology with agriculture, POLLEN PATROLLERS is helping to strengthen food security while restoring ecosystems. The innovation is the first of its kind in Africa and aims to improve farmer incomes while protecting biodiversity.
From Malawi, W. Leif Van Grinsven represents Small Farm Cities Africa. The initiative is developing climate smart housing and agroforestry systems that reduce dependence on deforestation driven construction. Small Farm Cities is building a model for planned economic communities that integrate horticulture, aquaculture, infrastructure and residential housing. Starting in Malawi, the project is creating pathways to land ownership, economic participation and wealth creation while promoting sustainable land use.
In the Green Business category, three African entrepreneurs are among the top finalists.
Munyasa Hellen from Uganda leads Helton Traders Limited, a company converting plastic bottle waste into affordable polyester sewing threads. Uganda and much of East Africa face two challenges: plastic pollution and shortages of polyester sewing threads. Helton Traders addresses both by turning waste into high quality, locally produced thread. The business model reduces environmental pollution, lowers costs for local tailors and manufacturers and creates green jobs in recycling and production.
From Egypt, Mohamed M. Khaled leads NoorNation, a renewable energy startup operating in Egypt and Rwanda. NoorNation develops and manufactures decentralized, tech enabled solar energy and water infrastructure solutions for agriculture businesses and rural communities in underserved areas across Egypt and Sub Saharan Africa. Its flagship product, LifeBox, is a solar powered, self contained and fast deployable unit that delivers clean electricity and safe water for irrigation, water pumping and desalination. By providing reliable energy and water access, NoorNation supports farming productivity and rural development.
In Nigeria, Patience Obande heads Schrödinger Technologie, a renewable energy company focused on solar powered water purification systems. The company designs and manufactures affordable systems for households, refugees, organizations and farmers in off grid communities across West Africa. Its products can deliver safe drinking water from highly contaminated sources, fully powered by solar energy. Schrödinger Technologie operates under three registered trademarks: RienLight Water Box, Bluvora Farms and Waterstation®. The company emphasizes quality, speed, simplicity and affordability as its core strengths.
Global Stage and Growth Opportunities
The selection of five African finalists from such a competitive global pool underscores the continent’s rising contribution to climate innovation. These businesses are not pilot ideas. They are operating ventures addressing urgent challenges in agriculture, water access, energy supply and waste management.
On 31 March 2026, the eight finalists will pitch their ventures live at the Youth Ecopreneur Awards during ChangeNOW in Paris, one of the world’s largest gatherings focused on solutions for the planet. The event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and global changemakers.
At the pitching event, finalists will compete for cash prizes of US$10,000. Beyond the prize money, they will gain international visibility that can unlock partnerships, funding and new markets. For early stage climate focused businesses, this exposure can significantly accelerate growth and scaling.
For Africa, the presence of five finalists demonstrates that youth led enterprises are developing solutions that can compete globally. These entrepreneurs are combining technology, sustainability and business discipline to solve real problems. Their progress through the Bootcamp, Accelerator and now the Awards stage shows that African innovation is not only local in impact but global in relevance.
As they prepare to take the stage in Paris, the message is clear. African youth are not waiting on the sidelines of the green economy. They are building it.
