Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon 2026

Young innovators across Eastern Africa are being invited to showcase climate-focused technologies and digital solutions through the Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon 2026, a regional initiative organized by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC). Designed to accelerate youth-driven climate innovation, this hackathon seeks to identify, support, and promote practical solutions that improve the delivery, accessibility, relevance, and uptake of climate services throughout the IGAD region.

The initiative creates an important platform for climate-tech entrepreneurs, software developers, researchers, startups, and innovators to demonstrate how digital technologies can help communities, governments, businesses, and institutions respond more effectively to climate variability and climate change.

Applications are now open and interested participants must submit their applications no later than 6 November 2026.

What is the Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon?

The Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon is a regional innovation challenge aimed at empowering young people to contribute directly to climate resilience and sustainable development through technology and innovation.

The hackathon seeks to discover and advance innovative climate-service solutions that can:

• Improve access to weather and climate information.
• Strengthen climate forecasting and early warning systems.
• Support climate adaptation and resilience efforts.
• Enhance agricultural decision-making.
• Improve water resource management.
• Increase community access to climate intelligence.
• Promote data-driven climate action.
• Support environmental monitoring and climate risk management.

Unlike many innovation competitions that focus solely on ideas, this initiative specifically targets innovators who have already developed solutions that are functional or have reached the pilot implementation stage.

Why This Hackathon Matters

Climate services are increasingly becoming essential tools for governments, businesses, farmers, humanitarian organizations, and communities seeking to prepare for and respond to climate-related risks.

Despite advances in climate science and forecasting technologies, many people across the region continue to face challenges in accessing and utilizing climate information effectively.

Through this hackathon, ICPAC aims to bridge these gaps by harnessing the creativity, technological expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit of young innovators across the IGAD region.

The initiative recognizes that youth-led technologies can play a significant role in:

• Delivering weather information more efficiently.
• Supporting disaster preparedness.
• Improving drought monitoring.
• Enhancing flood forecasting.
• Enabling climate-smart agriculture.
• Providing localized climate insights.
• Supporting informed policy decisions.
• Strengthening community resilience.

Hackathon Venue and Schedule

The Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon will take place in Nairobi, Kenya.

Application Deadline

• 6 November 2026

Hackathon Event

• Planned for 8–10 December 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya

Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit their applications well before the stated deadline to avoid last-minute challenges.

Who Should Apply?

The hackathon is particularly suitable for young innovators who are actively developing climate-related technologies and services.

Potential applicants include:

Climate-Tech Startups

Organizations and startups working on innovative products that address climate challenges through technology and data-driven approaches.

Software Developers

Developers creating digital platforms, mobile applications, cloud-based systems, or software tools designed to improve climate-service delivery.

Environmental Technology Innovators

Individuals and teams developing solutions for environmental monitoring, natural resource management, or climate adaptation.

Data Scientists and Analysts

Professionals leveraging climate, environmental, agricultural, and geospatial data to produce actionable insights.

Agricultural Technology Entrepreneurs

Innovators building digital tools that help farmers make better decisions using climate information.

Early Warning System Developers

Teams creating systems for disaster risk reduction, weather alerts, drought monitoring, and climate risk communication.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon 2026, applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. Age Requirement

Applicants must be between:

• 18 years old and 35 years old

2. Geographic Eligibility

Applicants must:

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

3. Existing Climate Solution Requirement

Applicants must possess:

• A climate-related digital tool
• A climate-related platform
• A climate-related product
• A climate-related technological solution

The innovation must already be:

• Functional; or
• At the pilot implementation stage

4. Demonstration Requirement

Applicants must be capable of:

• Demonstrating the solution.
• Explaining how the innovation works.
• Describing intended users.
• Presenting the current stage of development.
• Showing potential impacts on climate services.

5. Participation Commitment

Applicants must be available to:

• Participate fully in the hackathon activities.
• Present their innovations.
• Engage with technical experts.
• Interact with evaluation panels.
• Network with potential partners and stakeholders.

What Types of Solutions Are Being Sought?

The hackathon welcomes a broad range of climate-focused innovations, including but not limited to:

Climate Information Platforms

Solutions that improve access to climate and weather information.

Agricultural Advisory Systems

Digital tools that provide climate-smart farming recommendations.

Forecasting Technologies

Applications and platforms supporting weather and climate predictions.

Early Warning Systems

Technologies helping communities prepare for extreme weather events and climate-related disasters.

Environmental Monitoring Solutions

Systems that track environmental indicators and climate conditions.

Water Resource Management Technologies

Innovations that assist with water monitoring, planning, and sustainable management.

Data Analytics Solutions

Tools using artificial intelligence, machine learning, remote sensing, or geospatial analytics to improve climate services.

Important Restriction: Concept-Only Ideas Are Not Eligible

One of the most important conditions of the competition is that concept-only proposals will not be accepted.

Applicants cannot apply with:

• Unimplemented concepts
• Theoretical ideas
• Early-stage proposals without a working solution

Instead, participants must already have a demonstrable solution that can be presented during the selection and hackathon processes.

This requirement ensures that the event focuses on innovations capable of being refined, tested, scaled, and potentially adopted for wider climate-service applications.

Benefits of Participating

While the official announcement does not specify financial awards, participation offers significant opportunities such as:

• Exposure to climate experts.
• Access to technical evaluation panels.
• Opportunities to showcase innovations.
• Regional visibility for climate-tech solutions.
• Networking with potential partners.
• Collaboration opportunities with stakeholders.
• Increased recognition within the climate innovation ecosystem.
• Potential pathways for future partnerships and scaling.

Find similar opportunities on competitions, click here.

About ICPAC

The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) serves as a regional climate center supporting member states through climate forecasting, climate monitoring, early warning systems, research, capacity development, and climate services.

As a designated Regional Climate Centre of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), ICPAC plays a crucial role in strengthening climate resilience and supporting sustainable development across the IGAD region.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should complete and submit the official application form before the deadline of 6 November 2026.

Candidates should ensure they have sufficient information and evidence to demonstrate their existing climate-related solution during the application and selection process.

Visit here to apply.

Conclusion

The Youth4Climate Services Innovation Hackathon 2026 represents an outstanding opportunity for young climate innovators across the IGAD region to showcase practical solutions that can transform how climate services are delivered and utilized. By focusing on functional and pilot-stage innovations, the hackathon aims to connect promising technologies with experts, partners, and stakeholders capable of supporting their growth and impact. For young entrepreneurs, climate-tech startups, software developers, and environmental innovators seeking regional recognition and meaningful engagement in climate resilience efforts, this initiative offers a valuable platform to demonstrate innovation, build partnerships, and contribute to a more climate-resilient future across Eastern Africa.

Click here to see more opportunities on the website of Opportunities For Youth (OFY).