Country: South Africa 

The challenge and what MTN wanted to achieve

With only a few years remaining to achieve the 2030 UNSDGs, the world faces an urgent need to move faster, with Africa confronting particularly acute challenges around inequality, youth unemployment and digital safety. We recognise that accelerating progress would require not only corporate action but also empowered young leaders able to turn bold ideas into scalable solutions. Through our participation in the UN Global Compact’s SDG Innovation Accelerator Programme for Young Professionals, we provide a platform for emerging talent within MTN to shape solutions to real-world sustainability challenges.

What we did

In 2025, a team of four MTN graduates from South Africa was selected to participate in the global nine-month Accelerator programme. Supported by structured learning, global peer exchange and expert mentorship, the team developed an AI-powered solution to address the rapid rise in online harms affecting children. The concept focused on shielding children from predators, limiting exposure to harmful content and reducing cyberbullying in digital environments. As some of the youngest participants in the programme, the team translated lived digital experiences into a practical, technology-enabled response to a growing societal risk.

Outcomes and impact

The programme culminated at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the MTN graduate team was selected as one of only two African teams to present their solution at the UN Global Compact Leaders’ Summit. Their project earned top recognition at the global showcase and directly supports SDG 16.2 on ending abuse, exploitation and violence against children, while also contributing to SDG 3’s health and well-being outcomes. The recognition demonstrates that African innovation can shape global conversations on digital responsibility and child online safety.

Lessons learnt

Beyond the global recognition, the Accelerator demonstrated the power of partnerships in translating youth-led ideas into credible, development-aligned solutions. Through collaboration between MTN, the UN Global Compact network and industry mentors, the programme created a pathway for graduates to contribute meaningfully to complex social challenges using technology, data and human-centred design. The achievement highlighted how structured innovation platforms can unlock young talent within organisations and connect private-sector capability with global development priorities.

Our MTN graduates demonstrated that youth-led innovation, when supported through strong institutional partnerships and mentorship, can generate scalable solutions to some of society’s most complex challenges.