MTN Nigeria Communications Plc in partnership with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through its local partner, the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria and Deloitte Nigeria have launched the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge, an innovation challenge designed to provide young people and youth-led SMEs the opportunity to develop innovative, long-term solutions and ideas to pressing environmental challenges and promote sustainability in Nigeria.

The challenge is part of the MTN’s Africa PachiPanda Challenge, designed to stimulate and champion innovative solutions that address urgent environmental challenges across the continent, in line with MTN’s climate entrepreneurship mandate and the group-wide sustainability strategy “Ambition 2030.” – https://www.mtn.com/pachipanda-challenge/

More than a competition, the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge is a movement that galvanises participants to think unconventionally, craft solutions that address immediate environmental challenges, and play an active role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of their communities.

The PachiPanda Challenge will:

• Discover and incubate young people and youth-led SMEs with innovative and sustainable solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• To increase the participation of young people in environmental sustainability in Nigeria and provide a springboard platform for growth in terms of rewarding and scaling their innovation.
• To enhance young people’s knowledge of environmental challenges and community-led sustainable solutions.
• Provide an opportunity for young people to participate and showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and commitment to sustainability.
• To support innovative and sustainable solutions for environmental challenges, including climate adaptation and mitigation measures.
• To demonstrate how partnership between corporate sector players like MTN and NPOs can drive significant progress in addressing environmental challenges.

The PachiPanda Challenge invites youths (18 – 35 years), students (university and college students), young entrepreneurs, youth-led SMEs, entrepreneurs, and individuals from Nigeria to enter their innovative ideas or solutions to the challenge statements on:

1.0     Climate Change [Solutions focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gases]

Human activities emit greenhouse gases – mainly carbon dioxide and methane, which are the major drivers of climate change. The effects of climate change include, among others, severe drought, water scarcity, rising sea levels, flooding and biodiversity loss.

How can you inspire innovative solutions in Nigeria’s homes and businesses to reduce emissions, fight climate change and build resilience?

2.0     Climate Smart Cities and Urban Resilience [Solutions focusing on building cities that can adapt, recover and thrive]

Cities are expected to account for two-thirds of the projected growth of the world’s population by 2050, with most of the remaining one-third of growth concentrated in towns. Nigeria’s urban population is also projected to rise by 70%, increasing pressure on housing, transportation, energy, water, and public infrastructure. Climate impacts such as flooding, extreme heat, erosion, and poor air quality are already affecting urban communities, particularly vulnerable populations. The cities of the future must not only grow but also adapt.

How can you design innovative solutions that help Nigerian cities become more climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable in the face of increasing environmental pressures? Prioritising areas such as industrial waste management, flood prediction and response systems, green infrastructure, sustainable transport, smart energy management, climate-resilient housing, urban food systems and sustainable agriculture, community adaptation solutions, and strengthening (inclusive) safeguards against risks, and solutions leveraging AI and frontier tech, enabling local production, integrating soft and hardware innovation with potential to create green jobs and sustainable livelihoods.

3.0     Community Conservation [Solutions focusing on biodiversity protection and community-led conservation efforts for improved livelihood]

Conservation is most powerful when it is people-driven, designed to improve livelihood and well-being. Across Nigeria, local communities live closest to nature and hold traditional knowledge and practices that can protect ecosystems. Yet, these same communities often face poverty, limited infrastructure, and restricted access to education or resources, factors that can lead to unsustainable environmental practices.

How can you co-create a future in which communities are empowered to lead conservation efforts and drive change through communal wisdom, innovation, and stewardship?

4.0     Pollution [Solutions focusing on improved waste management]

Our activities generate large amounts of waste, with dump sites a common sight in our cities, towns and villages. Despite best efforts at waste management, waste still constitutes significant pollution threats across Nigeria with attendant health and environmental risks.

How can you innovatively transform waste management in Nigeria to reduce pollution, address health and environmental hazards and build sustainability? You can share solutions for business or industrial sectors, behavioural, artistic and tech solutions.

To submit an entry to any of the challenge statements, answer the following questions

1. Briefly describe your innovative idea or solution (Maximum of 200 words)
2. What makes your idea or solution outstanding and deserving of selection? (Maximum of 200 words)
3. How would your idea or solution impact people at the community, national and international levels? (Maximum 200 words)
4. Provide a detailed description of your innovative idea or solution, including evidence or proof of concept (Maximum of 2000 words)

Rules and eligibility:

• The Challenge is open to individuals or teams residing in Nigeria.
• Participants should be between 18 and 35.
• You may participate as an individual or form a team of a maximum of three members.
• Young entrepreneurs or youth-led SMEs with early or idea stage solutions are free to participate, with a maximum of three members.
• All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
• Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
• MTN Nigeria, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria and Deloitte Nigeria employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• Participants found in violation of the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge terms and conditions  or suspected of fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behaviour, will be disqualified from the Challenge.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its discretion.

MTN South Africa, in partnership with Nedbank, has introduced the 2026 Pachi Panda Challenge. This initiative is designed to inspire young people and youth-led SMEs to create technology-driven solutions that tackle urgent environmental issues, while supporting South Africa’s Just Transition goals.
i.e urgent environmental issues, while supporting South Africa’s Just Transition goals.

The PachiPanda Challenge:
Encourages youth and youth-led SMEs to design and implement innovative, sustainable solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Equips and empowers South African youth to address the country’s environmental challenges.
Boosts youth involvement in environmental sustainability and climate action within South Africa.
Fosters entrepreneurship in the green economy to drive sustainable job creation.
Expands young people’s understanding of climate change and community-based sustainable solutions.
Supports the development of innovative and sustainable responses to environmental challenges.

The PachiPanda Challenge invites young entrepreneurs and SMEs from South Africa between the ages of 18 and 35 to enter their solutions to the challenge statements on:

Challenge Statement 1: Nature Meets Innovation: Turning Africa’s Natural Assets into Green Economic Opportunity
How can Africa combine indigenous knowledge, technology, and nature-based solutions to create new enterprises, jobs, and investment opportunities while protecting its natural assets?
Build an innovative solution that combines indigenous knowledge, technology, and nature-based approaches to create sustainable enterprises, jobs, and investment opportunities across Africa. Focus areas could include biodiversity conservation, regenerative agriculture, sustainable natural resource management, circular economy solutions, ecosystem restoration, or technology that supports the sustainable use of natural assets. The solution should unlock economic opportunities, strengthen local livelihoods, attract investment, and protect Africa’s natural assets for future generations.

Challenge Statement 2: Waste to Wealth: Building Africa’s Circular Economy
How can we use technology, innovation and entrepreneurship to reduce waste and turn waste materials into valuable products, services and new income opportunities?transforming waste into economic value by developing innovative circular solutions that create businesses, jobs and cleaner, more resilient communities.
Build an innovative waste-to-value solution that transforms waste into useful products, services, or resources while creating sustainable businesses and jobs. Focus areas could include recycling and upcycling, organic waste and composting, waste-to-energy, e-waste recovery, sustainable packaging, construction materials, or digital solutions that improve waste collection, sorting, and market access.

Challenge Statement 3: Water Conservation: Making Every Drop Count
How can we use innovation and nature-based solutions to improve water security, reduce water losses and make water more accessible to communities and businesses?
Design a tech-driven solution that strengthens water security for South Africa. This could include affordable leak detection tools, smart metering, stormwater management, wastewater reuse, or rural water access innovations. The goal is to help households, farmers, and municipalities use water more efficiently, prevent pollution, and adapt to droughts and climate variability.

Challenge Statement 4: Regenerative Agriculture: Growing Food, Restoring Nature and Creating Opportunity
How can we help farmers produce more food while restoring soil, protecting biodiversity and using lesser natural resources?
Build an innovative regenerative food and agriculture solution that improves food security and livelihoods while restoring ecosystems and strengthening climate resilience. Focus areas could include regenerative and climate-smart farming, soil and water restoration, agroforestry, biodiversity conservation, sustainable aquaculture, indigenous farming practices, or technologies that improve resource efficiency and agricultural productivity.

Rules and eligibility:

• The Challenge is open to South African youth aged between 18 and 35 years.
• Participants may enter individually or as part of a team, with a maximum of three members per team.
• Have an innovative solution within nature-based innovation, circular economy and waste management, water conservation, regenerative agriculture, sustainable aquaculture and ecosystem restoration.
• Youth-led SMEs with early-stage or existing solutions are encouraged to apply.
• Applicants must demonstrate innovation and have proof of concept, either through an operational solution or currently in the pilot phase.
• Existing businesses must demonstrate market fit, validated traction, and be generating revenue.
• Early-stage start-ups must demonstrate an innovative solution, a clearly defined market need, and a viable proof of concept or prototype.
• The applicant should show a willingness to learn, grow and commit to the full duration of the programme (6 Months)
• All participants must register online and submit their entries via the designated portal before the stated deadline.
• MTN South Africa employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.
• Any participant who violates the PachiPanda Challenge Terms and Conditions or is suspected of fraud, plagiarism or unethical conduct may be disqualified.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team that fails to comply with the Challenge requirements.

Pachipanda Innovation Challenge 4.0
The MTN Zambia Foundation and WWF Zambia have launched the Pachipanda Innovation Challenge 4.0, an exciting initiative that empowers young people and youth-led SMEs to develop innovative, long-term solutions to pressing environmental challenges. The challenge promotes sustainability and green entrepreneurship across Africa.

About the Challenge
Originally designed in Zambia in 2022, the Pachipanda Innovation Challenge has grown into a continental movement. In 2024, it expanded to include Cameroon, Nigeria, and South Africa, forming the Africa Pachipanda Challenge. National winners from each country now compete at the continental level for additional seed funding, training, and exposure.

What the Challenge Offers
1. Seed Funding
• 1st Place: $5,000
• 2nd Place: $3,000
• 3rd Place: $2,000

2. Mentorship & Training
• Expert mentorship through a human-centered design sprint.
• Training in business modeling, customer identification, and value proposition development.

3. Pan-African Exposure
• Winners advance to the continental Pachipanda Contest to compete with innovators across Africa.

4. Startup Support
• Top 10 teams receive ongoing support to become investment-ready.

5. Networking Opportunities
• Connect with investors, stakeholders, and fellow innovators.

6. Focus on Environmental Innovation
• Climate-resilient agriculture
• Smart water management
• Waste management and recycling
• Drought and energy challenges

Tagline: Plant. Protect. Provide.
Overarching Theme: Nourishing Tomorrow: Innovations for Food, Energy, and Water Security

Challenge 1: Innovate for Climate Change!
Calling all youth! Join the Pachipanda Innovation Challenge and unleash your creative genius to develop green solutions that heal our planet and combat climate change. Be a pioneer in shaping Zambia’s future with your bold ideas!.

Challenge 2: Energise Zambia!
Power up your imagination! Zambia faces growing energy and water challenges, and we need your groundbreaking solutions. From renewable energy innovations to smart water management systems, your ideas can help power our cities and farms sustainably. Let’s protect our natural resources and provide clean, reliable energy and water for all.

Challenge 3: Grow Smart, Eat Smart!
Jump into the future of farming! We’re looking for digital-age agricultural innovations that embrace smart, sustainable techniques. Your tech-driven solutions can help secure food for our communities, improve nutrition, and build climate-resilient food systems. Plant the seeds of change and help nourish tomorrow.

Challenge 4: Recycle Revolution!
Join the waste management movement! We need your tech-savvy ideas to transform recycling and waste reduction into everyday habits. From circular economy models to community-driven recycling innovations, your solutions can protect our environment and provide cleaner, healthier spaces for all.

RULES AND ELIGIBILITY
The PachiPanda Innovations Challenge 2025 is designed to empower and showcase innovative solutions by Zambian youth. To ensure fair participation and impactful outcomes, the following rules and eligibility criteria apply:
i. The Challenge is open to Zambian youth aged between 18 and 35 years.

ii. Participants may enter individually or as part of a team, with a maximum of three members per team.

iii. Youth-led SMEs with early-stage or existing solutions are encouraged to apply (maximum of three team members).

iv. Preference will be given to innovations that have a proof of concept and are already operational or in pilot phase.

v. Each team must designate 1 representative who has access to a laptop and can commit to a 2-week intensive training program aimed at enhancing their project.

vi. All participants must register online and submit their entries via the designated portal before the stated deadline.

vii. Participants must provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.

viii. Employees of MTN Zambia and WWF Zambia, as well as their immediate family members, are not eligible to participate.

ix. Any participant found to violate the PachiPanda Challenge Terms and Conditions, or involved in fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behaviour, will be disqualified.

x. The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its sole discretion.

MTN Cameroon and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), partnered to launch the 2025 PachiPanda Challenge in Cameroon. This initiative encourages youths and youth-led SMEs to propose tech-based innovations to tackle current environmental challenges and promote sustainability practices.

The PachiPanda Challenge:

• Discovers and incubates youth and youth-led SMEs with innovative and sustainable solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Increases the participation of young people in environmental sustainability and climate change in Cameroon.
• Enhances young people’s knowledge of climate change challenges and community-led sustainable solutions.
• Supports innovative and sustainable solutions for environmental challenges including the pressing matter of climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

The PachiPanda Challenge invites young entrepreneurs and SMEs from Cameroon (university and college students) to enter their solutions to the challenge statements on:

1.0 Sustainable Waste Management

Develop an innovative solution that addresses comprehensive waste management. The solution should aim to improve collecting, recycling and upcycling methods, and engage communities in sustainable waste practices. On the long term, the innovation should contribute to the implementation of a circular economy (Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse). Benefiting the environment and providing financial incentives to all participants in the value chain.

Demonstrate how technology can be used to sustainably improve waste management.

2.0 Water and Energy Resilience:

The current energy challenges experienced in Cameroon are impacting businesses and livelihoods. We are calling out for innovative sustainable energy solutions to develop technologies that will reduce dependency on water levels for power generation. And ideas to create smart water management systems for conservation in rural and urban areas are needed.

What innovative technological solution can you propose to improve water and energy resilience?

3.0 Food Security

The stability of our food systems in Cameroon is increasingly compromised by unpredictable rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and flooding. These climate shocks do not just reduce crop yields; they destabilize the entire value chain and threatening the nutritional security of our most vulnerable populations. It’s happening from farm to table. We believe that technology and innovation can help here. We are looking for concrete technological solutions to reduce climate risks and optimize production, specifically focusing on warning systems, smart water management, reducing post-harvest loss and even greenFintech ideas.

Provide an innovative solution to an environmental challenge in your community using technology while focusing on the solution’s long-term sustainability. 

• The Challenge is open to individuals or teams residing in Cameroon.
• Participants should be between 18 to 35.
• You may participate as an individual or form a mixed team of maximum three members.
• Youth-led SMEs with early or idea stage solutions are free to participate, maximum of three members.
• All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
• Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
• MTN Cameroon and WWF Cameroon employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• Participants found in violation of the PachiPanda Challenge “Terms and Conditions” or suspected of fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behaviour, will be disqualified from the Challenge.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its discretion.

MTN Uganda, in partnership with the Wild Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Uganda, invites young innovators, entrepreneurs and youth-led SMEs to participate in the Uganda PachiPanda Challenge 2026.

The Challenge forms part of the Africa PachiPanda Challenge, a pan-African initiative designed to discover and support youth-led businesses and innovators developing sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.

This year’s theme, Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Africa’s Green Economy, calls on young people to develop practical, scalable and commercially viable solutions that combine nature, technology and entrepreneurship to create positive environmental, social and economic impact.

Preference will be given to ventures with a proof of concept, pilot project, existing customers, measurable impact or demonstrated potential to scale. The Uganda PachiPanda Challenge aims to:
1. Increase youth participation in environmental sustainability and climate action.
2. Promote green entrepreneurship and innovation.
3. Support nature-based solutions that protect ecosystems and strengthen communities.
4. Develop sustainable business models that create jobs and livelihoods.
5. Build a pipeline of scalable green enterprises that contribute to Uganda’s green economy.

The PachiPanda Challenge invites youths (18 – 35 years), students (university and college students), young entrepreneurs, youth-led SMEs, entrepreneurs, and individuals from Uganda to enter their innovative ideas or solutions to the challenge statements on: 1. Nature-Based Climate Resilience 2. Sustainable Livelihoods and Green Enterprises 3. Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation 4. Digital Solutions for Africa’s Green Economy

2026 Uganda PachiPanda Challenge Statements

Challenge Statement 1: Nature-Based Climate Resilience
Communities across Uganda are increasingly facing the impacts of climate change, including droughts, floods, biodiversity loss and declining ecosystem health.
We are looking for innovative solutions that use nature-based approaches and technology to strengthen climate resilience, restore ecosystems and improve community well-being.

Potential focus areas include:
a) Ecosystem restoration
b) Reforestation and afforestation
c) Wetland protection
d) Nature-based climate adaptation
e) Climate-risk monitoring and early warning systems
d) Community resilience solutions

How does your solution use nature and innovation to improve climate resilience while creating environmental and social value?

Challenge Statement 2: Sustainable Livelihoods and Green Enterprises
Africa’s green economy presents significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs to create businesses that generate income while protecting natural resources.
We are looking for scalable ventures that create sustainable livelihoods through environmentally responsible products, services and business models.
Potential focus areas include:

a) Green jobs creation
b) Circular economy enterprises
c) Sustainable tourism
d) Sustainable value chains
e) Community conservation enterprises
d)Green finance and market access solutions

How does your solution create sustainable economic opportunities while contributing to environmental sustainability?

Challenge Statement 3: Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation

Uganda’s biodiversity and natural resources are under increasing pressure from population growth, land-use change and unsustainable practices.
We are looking for innovative solutions that protect, restore and sustainably manage natural resources while creating value for communities.
Potential focus areas include:

a) Biodiversity conservation
b) Community conservation
c) Sustainable forestry
d) Sustainable fisheries
e) Wildlife conservation
f) Ecosystem monitoring technologies

How does your solution contribute to protecting biodiversity and natural resources while delivering measurable community benefits?

Challenge Statement 4: Digital Solutions for Africa’s Green Economy

Technology has the potential to accelerate environmental sustainability and unlock new opportunities for growth.

We are looking for digitally enabled solutions that address environmental challenges through data, connectivity, technology, artificial intelligence or digital platforms.
Potential focus areas include:
a) Environmental monitoring
b) Smart agriculture
c) Green fintech
d) Renewable energy technologies
e) Climate data solutions
f) Circular economy platforms
g) Digital tools supporting conservation and sustainability

How does your solution use innovation and technology to accelerate environmental sustainability and unlock green economic opportunities?

Rules and eligibility:
• The Challenge is open to individuals or teams residing in Uganda.
• Participants should be between 18 and 35.
• You may participate as an individual or form a team of a maximum of three members.
• Young entrepreneurs or youth-led SMEs with early or idea stage solutions are free to participate, with a maximum of three members.
• All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
• Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
• MTN Uganda, and WWF Uganda employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• Participants found in violation of the PachiPanda Challenge “Terms and Conditions” or suspected of fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behaviour, will be disqualified from the Challenge.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its discretion.

MTN Eswatini, in partnership with key strategic partners advancing environmental sustainability in Eswatini, will launch the PachiPanda Challenge in September 2026.The challenge is designed to inspire and empower young people and youth-led SMEs to develop innovative, technology-driven solutions that address pressing environmental challenges while promoting sustainable practices across the country.

Objectives of the PachiPanda Challenge

The PachiPanda Challenge seeks to:
1. Identify, nurture, and incubate youth and youth-led SMEs with innovative solutions that contribute to environmental sustainability in Eswatini.
2. Increase youth participation in environmental conservation, climate action, and sustainable development initiatives.
3. Enhance awareness and knowledge among young people on climate change challenges and community-led sustainability solutions.
4. Support the development and scaling of tech-enabled innovations that address environmental challenges, including climate change adaptation, mitigation, waste management, renewable energy, water conservation, and ecosystem protection.

2026 Theme and Challenge Statements

The 2026 programme operates under the theme Nature Meets Innovation: Unlocking Africa’s Green Economy. Applicants are asked to respond to this theme through one of four challenge statements, each grounded in evidence from community feedback, the 2021 State of the Environment Report and the National Climate Agenda 2026, so the businesses recruited address problems Eswatini has identified rather than assumed.

1.0 Reimagining Food & Farming

Regenerative Agri-Food Systems & Green Value Chains: solutions for climate-resilient farming, indigenous seeds, food security and green livelihoods. More than 70% of Eswatini’s population depends on agriculture.
1. Much of it is rainfed and highly exposed to drought and unpredictable rainfall, as the 2015/16 El Niño drought demonstrated
2. Soil degradation, dependence on external inputs, limited local processing and storage, and the loss of indigenous crop varieties further weaken food system resilience
3.  Applicants are invited to restore soil health, strengthen indigenous and climate-resilient seed systems, reduce post-harvest losses, improve local processing and storage, strengthen agricultural value chains, and create new green agribusiness opportunities for young people.

2.0 Securing Eswatini’s Water Future

Ecological Infrastructure & Smart Water Stewardship: Solutions for water security, watershed restoration and smarter use of water.
Much of Eswatini’s available freshwater goes to commercial irrigation, while many rural and peri-urban communities still struggle to access reliable supplies, and the wetlands, rivers and catchments that store, filter and regulate water face growing pressure from land-use change and degradation. Applicants are invited to develop solutions for wetland and catchment restoration, affordable rainwater harvesting, water conservation and reuse, early warning and monitoring, smart water management, and community-based water solutions that help households, farmers, and businesses use less water without losing productivity.

3.0 Restoring Nature, Creating Opportunity

Bio-Innovation & Restorative Landscapes: Solutions that turn invasive species and degraded land into restoration and livelihood opportunities.

Alien Invasive Plant Species declared a national disaster in 2005 continue to disrupt ecosystems, affect water resources, and threaten landscapes that communities depend on for food, medicine, and livelihoods. Applicants are invited to responsibly remove and utilise invasive biomass, develop products from invasive species, establish indigenous plant nurseries and seed storage, restore degraded landscapes, and build enterprises that generate income while improving ecosystem health and eco-tourism.

4.0 Turning Waste & Energy Challenges into Opportunity

Circular Economy & Decentralised Energy Transitions: solutions that turn waste into products and resources and expand access to clean energy.

Indiscriminate dumping and open burning contribute to pollution and emissions. Widespread dependence on wood fuel for cooking and heating drives deforestation and local air pollution. Applicants are invited to turn organic waste into compost or energy, expand biogas and small-scale solar solutions, improve recycling and collection, create markets for recovered materials, and build repair, reuse and upcycling businesses for plastics, e-waste and household products.

Rules and eligibility:

• The Challenge is open to individuals or teams residing in Eswatini.
• Participants should be between 18 and 35 years old.
• You may participate as an individual or form a team of maximum three members.
• Youth-led SMEs with early or idea stage solutions are free to participate.
• All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
• Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
• MTN Eswatini employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• Participants found in violation of the PachiPanda Challenge “Terms and Conditions” or suspected of fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behaviour, will be disqualified from the Challenge.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its discretion.