Junior Achievement (JA) Africa, in partnership with the Z Zurich Foundation and JA Worldwide, has officially wrapped up the third edition of the AfrInnovate Youth Challenge (AYC), spotlighting bold innovations from young entrepreneurs across the continent. This year’s competition reaffirmed the power of youth-driven ideas in driving inclusion, sustainability, and economic resilience.
SkyVerse Solutions of Tanzania Wins Top Honors
After an inspiring showcase of high-impact pitches, SkyVerse Solutions from Tanzania clinched 1st Place for its mechanized post-harvest groundnut processing solution. The innovation aims to strengthen food security by increasing yields and boosting the incomes of smallholder farmers.
Uganda’s AgriCool Solar Chamber Takes 2nd Place
Uganda’s AgriCool Solar Chamber secured the 2nd Place prize. The venture, praised for affordability and practicality, offers solar-powered cold storage solutions that significantly reduce food spoilage and enhance farmers’ profitability.
Tie for 3rd Place: Côte d’Ivoire and Togo Shine
A tie for 3rd Place highlighted two standout innovations:
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CaliFem (Côte d’Ivoire): Converts marine waste into sustainable calcium powder while creating job opportunities for women and advancing ocean conservation.
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Ecobrick Togo: Turns plastic waste into environmentally friendly construction materials, offering a scalable response to plastic pollution.
Special Awards Recognize Impact and Ingenuity
Two additional teams received special recognition:
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SolAir (Burkina Faso) earned the Innovation Award for its smart, solar-powered irrigation system designed to support climate resilience in agriculture.
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Ecobricks Liberia received the Impact Award for empowering rehabilitated youth with green employment opportunities while reducing plastic waste.
Leaders Applaud Africa’s Youth Innovators
“The AfrInnovate Youth Challenge is a powerful reminder that when marginalized young Africans are given access to knowledge, mentorship, and opportunity, they reinvent Africa’s economy,” said Simi Nwogugu, President & CEO of JA Africa. “These young innovators are designing scalable solutions that address real-world challenges while proving that inclusion is the foundation of sustainable growth.”
Gregory Renand, Head of the Z Zurich Foundation, echoed the sentiment:
“At the Z Zurich Foundation, we believe that empowering youth is one of the most meaningful ways to build resilience in societies. Through our partnership with JA Africa, we are investing in young entrepreneurs whose ideas are creating tangible, lasting impact.”
A Program Transforming Lives Across Nine Countries
The AfrInnovate Youth Challenge is part of the JA Social Equity Program, which equips underserved youth aged 16–25 with entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work-readiness training. Through hands-on experience and mentorship, participants learn to build social enterprises that tackle the challenges facing their communities.
Supported by the Z Zurich Foundation, the initiative has already reached over 150,000 youth in nine African countries, sparking the creation of more than 7,000 youth-led social enterprises focused on climate resilience, education access, gender equity, and sustainable development.
