MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2025 (Up To 5,000 USD prizes value)

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MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2025. The Africa PachiPanda Challenge is a collaborative initiative between MTN and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It is designed to inspire and support the development of innovative, youth-driven solutions that address critical environmental challenges across the African continent. The challenge empowers participants to contribute to sustainable development and environmental stewardship within their communities.

The Africa PachiPanda Challenge is jointly organised by MTN and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This strategic partnership brings together MTN’s commitment to digital and social innovation and WWF’s global leadership in environmental conservation to drive impactful, youth-led solutions across the continent.

This programme aligns with WWF’s global goals, its Africa Strategy, and its established practices. It also adds significant value to the Mobilising More for Climate (MM4C) Programme. Specifically, the challenge contributes to achieving WWF’s core objectives of zero habitat loss, preventing species extinction, and promoting healthy populations. Furthermore, WWF’s Africa Strategy, titled “Making Nature Count,” aims to ensure that the value of Africa’s natural capital is fully integrated into decision-making by governments, corporations, financial institutions, and society.

The programme spearheads MTN’s commitment to protecting our planet through climate entrepreneurship. By cultivating a pipeline of innovative African green enterprises that tackle local environmental challenges, we are empowering youth-led businesses and investing in a sustainable future for the continent. The programme engages youth-led SMEs in developing entrepreneurial solutions to current environmental challenges and advancing sustainability.

Eligibility Criteria for Africa PachiPanda Challenge

They are working with young people (18 – 35 years), youth led SME’s, entrepreneurs, individuals, and organizations that work towards sustainable development in participating countries and employees in these sectors, who are looking for ways to make their business sustainable.
Select African countries include: Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroun, Uganda

Benefits

The challenge provides a platform for young innovators to contribute to their communities and the wider continent, creating solutions that address environmental and social issues.
It also offers the opportunity to connect with a wide network of like-minded individuals, potential investors, and stakeholders, amplifying the visibility and impact of their projects.

Africa PachiPanda Challenge Prize

For the 2025 Challenge, first-prize winning teams from each participating country received prizes valued at 5,000 USD.
These teams also advanced to the Pan-African PachiPanda Contest, where they competed in the grand finale.
Details and prize structures for future editions of the Challenge will be announced in due course.

Challenge Process

The challenge will take place in two phases. During phase one, applications in each country will be shortlisted.
Following this, selected participants will form teams of up to three members and undergo a human-centred design process during a sprint week.
This process will involve business modelling, customer identification, and developing unique value propositions.
The teams will then have the opportunity to pitch their solutions to a selected panel of industry experts, with the winning teams walking away with prizes valued at 5000 USD and advancing to stage 2 – the Pan-African contest, where they compete in the final.