Applications are open for RICH Hub African Climate AI Innovators 2026. Research & Innovation for Climate (RICH) Hub invites African climate AI innovators, researchers, startups, organizations, and solution developers to express their interest in joining its growing pipeline of innovations advancing climate resilience across Africa.
Climate change poses significant challenges to Africa’s sustainable development. While artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies offer new opportunities to strengthen climate resilience, many promising innovations face barriers to adoption, implementation, and scale.
Through this Expression of Interest, the RICH Hub seeks to identify promising climate AI innovations that are already being tested in real-world settings and have the potential to deliver meaningful impact in African contexts. The initiative seeks to identify promising, Africa-led or Africa-based innovations that use artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies to address climate and environmental challenges. It focuses on solutions that have progressed beyond the idea stage and are already being tested or used in real-world settings.
The aim is to help promising innovations overcome barriers to adoption, implementation and scale, connecting them with technical expertise, research opportunities, potential partners and other forms of support.
RICH Hub African Climate AI Innovators Purpose and Objectives
The RICH Hub aims to build a pipeline of African climate AI innovations with the potential to strengthen climate resilience and contribute to sustainable development.
Its objectives include:
- Identifying promising AI-enabled and data-driven solutions to climate and environmental challenges.
- Supporting innovations that have reached the pilot stage or beyond.
- Connecting innovators with technical expertise, research opportunities and implementation partners.
- Addressing barriers to adoption, implementation and commercial or operational scale.
- Increasing the visibility of African climate technology innovations.
- Facilitating collaboration among innovators, researchers, organisations, funders and other ecosystem actors.
Priority Areas
The EOI is open to innovations addressing climate and environmental challenges relevant to African communities, ecosystems, institutions or economies.
Relevant areas may include:
- Climate resilience and adaptation: Technologies helping communities and institutions prepare for, respond to or adapt to climate impacts.
- Environmental monitoring and data intelligence: Solutions using AI and data to improve environmental assessment, monitoring and decision-making.
- Climate risk and decision support: Data-driven tools that help identify risks and inform climate-related planning and action.
- Sustainable development: Innovations supporting more resilient systems, livelihoods and environmental management.
- Applied climate AI: Solutions using AI or data-driven technologies as a meaningful component of addressing a defined climate or environmental problem.
These are illustrative areas; applicants should demonstrate the specific climate challenge their innovation addresses.
RICH Hub African Climate AI Innovators Benefits
Selected innovations may access:
- Potential scaling grants of up to US$200,000, subject to eligibility, assessment, available resources and alignment with the Hub’s objectives.
- Technical and innovation support to strengthen solutions.
- Coaching and guidance tailored to the innovation’s development stage.
- Research and piloting opportunities.
- Connections with researchers, funders, implementation partners and other ecosystem stakeholders.
- Knowledge exchange and increased visibility.
- Potential partnerships to support adoption and scaling.
Important: This is an Expression of Interest (EOI), not a guaranteed grant award. Submission does not guarantee selection, support or funding. The type and availability of support will depend on each innovation’s needs, stage of development and fit with the RICH Hub’s objectives.
Who Can Apply?
The RICH Hub is seeking expressions of interest from:
- Climate AI innovators and solution developers.
- Startups and emerging technology ventures.
- Researchers and research teams.
- Organisations developing or implementing climate technologies.
- Other relevant innovation teams working on African climate challenges.
Eligibility Criteria for RICH Hub African Climate AI Innovators
Innovations should meet the following requirements:
- African-led or Africa-based: The innovation should be developed by an African-led or Africa-based team or organisation.
- Relevant challenge: It must address a clearly defined climate or environmental challenge relevant to African communities, ecosystems, institutions or economies.
- Meaningful use of technology: AI and/or data-driven technologies must play a meaningful role in the solution.
- Development stage: The innovation must have reached the pilot stage or beyond and be tested or used with its intended communities, organisations or end users.
- Potential to scale: The innovation should demonstrate potential for further development, adoption or scaling.
Innovations that remain at the idea or concept stage without real-world testing may not fit the stated requirements.
How To Apply
Application Deadline: Not Specified
Submission basis: Rolling; expressions of interest are accepted as they are received and considered for relevant opportunities as they arise.
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