The MTN Africa PachiPanda Challenge is an innovation programme for African youth aged 18 to 35 that encourages development of sustainable business solutions addressing local environmental challenges through technology and nature-based approaches. It is a joint initiative by MTN and WWF, aligned with global sustainable development goals and designed to foster green entrepreneurship across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Application Deadline:
Application deadlines vary by country and year.
- For the Nigeria 2026 challenge, applications open 29 July 2026 and close 28 August 2026.
- South Africa’s 2025 deadline is 17 October 2025;
- Zambia’s 2025 deadline is 31 October 2025. Refer to official sources for specific country deadlines.
Programme Overview
Since its origin in Zambia in 2022, the PachiPanda Challenge has expanded into a continental initiative involving Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, and Uganda. It supports youth-led SMEs and individuals with innovative solutions in biodiversity protection, pollution reduction, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. Winners from national challenges advance to a pan-African finale for additional funding and exposure.
Funding and Benefits
- The challenge awards seed funding to top national winners: first place $5,000, second place $3,000, and third place $2,000.
- Beyond financial support, participants benefit from expert mentorship during a human-centered design sprint, and training in business modeling and value proposition development.
- The programme fosters entrepreneurship in the green economy and enhances youth capacity for climate action.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old, residing in one of the participating countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, or Uganda.
- Both individuals and teams (up to three members) with early-stage or idea-stage eco-innovations are eligible.
- Employees of MTN and partner organizations, and their immediate families, are excluded.
- Participants must provide accurate information during registration and comply with challenge terms to avoid disqualification.
Business Stage and Sectors
The programme targets early-stage and idea-stage youth-led SMEs and entrepreneurs focused on sectors including environmental sustainability, climate action, green economy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. Solutions employing technology to enhance community conservation and pollution management are particularly encouraged.
Geography
The challenge is open to young innovators residing in Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, and Uganda, representing a multi-country African initiative with national and pan-African phases.
How to Apply
Interested participants must register and submit entries through the designated online portals available on the official website https://mtn.com/pachipanda-challenge. The process involves initial online application followed by shortlisted teams participating in a design sprint and pitching events.
Important Notes
Participants violating terms or exhibiting unethical conduct such as fraud or plagiarism will be disqualified. The challenge promotes sustainable solutions aligned with WWF’s objectives and MTN’s commitment to climate entrepreneurship. National winners represent their countries in a continental finale in South Africa. Check country-specific eligibility and deadlines carefully.
