Gender4Climate Africa Challenge 2023 for Transformative Solutions

KawiSafi Ventures, Dalberg, and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund are thrilled to announce the launch of the Competition: Gender4Climate Africa Challenge. Apply below.

When is Application Deadline:

9th August 2023, 5:00 PM East Africa Time

Tell Me About Award:

In the fight against climate change in Africa, women play a crucial role in driving transformative solutions and creating sustainable impact. Women’s unique perspectives, knowledge, and resilience are vital in addressing the challenges posed by climate change in Africa. Women are often early adopters of clean technologies and are at the frontline of climate adaptation and resilience. We recognize the power of gender-inclusive approaches in combating climate change and are committed to promoting and supporting women-led initiatives that champion environmental sustainability.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for enterprises operating in East Africa to showcase their innovative ideas and solutions that address climate change through integrating a gender-inclusive approach. We invite you to be part of this movement, where your ideas can shape a more sustainable future for our planet and empower women as climate champions.

Call for Submissions

We are inviting applicants to submit proposals for gender-inclusive solutions that address climate change. Your submission should outline your proposed solution, its potential impact, and how it embeds gender equality within its core. We want to hear about your ideas and initiatives that tackle climate change while empowering women.

Type:

Contest

Who can Apply?

The competition is open to enterprises operating in East Africa with new or existing gender-inclusive solutions or initiatives addressing climate change, including renewable energy access, productive use of energy, clean cooking, climate-smart agriculture, and carbon markets.

• Your organisation is a private enterprise with an operating presence in Kenya and/or Rwanda
• Your organisation has an annual turnover of up to 5 million USD and has under 100 employees and proven concept that has gone through at least a pilot
• Your organisation deploys or supports solutions that actively address climate change including the deployment of low-carbon technologies
• Your organisation promotes gender-inclusive solutions which increase the participation and representation of women or increases their adaptive capacity to climate change or environmental degradation

How are Applicants Selected?

Our esteemed committee consisting of climate and gender specialists, will review the submissions. They will evaluate the proposals based on their innovation, feasibility, potential for impact, and integration of gender-inclusive approaches. Only the most outstanding proposals will proceed to the next stage.

If selected as finalists, you will have the opportunity to present your proposal at a prestigious pitch event hosted during the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi during the week of September 4-8. This event will provide a platform to showcase your ideas to a distinguished panel of judges, potential investors, and key stakeholders in the climate change and gender equality space.

What makes a solution or initiative gender-inclusive can vary in different contexts and successful applicants might incorporate one or more of the following aspects: 

• The deployment of low-carbon technologies which may include distributed residential or commercial renewable energy solutions, clean cooking solutions, technologies at the nexus of energy and agriculture, or supports the development or monetization of carbon credits

• Providing climate-smart products or services that disproportionately target or benefit female consumers. 

• Designing or refining product or service offerings to better serve female customers and improve women’s access to and benefit from sustainable energy solutions

• Accelerating female entrepreneurship, ownership, and leadership (including at senior management and Company Board level)

• Initiatives that are aimed at increasing green-quality jobs for women (above 30% baseline)

• Initiatives that are increasing climate-related knowledge and upskilling/training of women at all levels, including those in leadership

• Increasing access to financial resources for women to generate demand for clean technologies and products

• Undertaking innovative workforce gender diversity and inclusion efforts including taking steps to ensure women in the workforce are not disproportionately vulnerable to health, safety, or gendered risks

• Enhancing women’s and girls’ resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change and environmental degradation

• Addressing of known gender gaps/inequalities through climate-smart products/services from the initiative or solution

• Directly addressing gender-related risks (for instance, women’s exposure to carbon monoxide when cooking)

• Working with female stakeholders to raise awareness of climate change and benefits of clean technologies

• Integrating female entrepreneurs into the company’s supply chain or distribution channels

How Many Awards?

Not specified

What is the Benefit of Award?

After careful evaluation of the pitches, the judging panel will announce the winners of the competition. The winners will receive financial prizes and also gain access to invaluable mentorship opportunities, networks, and increased visibility for their solutions. Your groundbreaking ideas can make a tangible difference and create lasting impact in the fight against climate change.

How to Apply:

To be considered for the competition, please ensure that your submission is received by the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please write to us at info@gender4climatechallenge.com

Please apply via the Google Form to submit your application

APPLY NOW

Visit Award Webpage for Details