Browsing: Afri-Plastics Challenge

plastic recycling
  • In Kenya, 37,000 metric tonnes of plastic get into the Indian ocean annually causing devastating disruption in our marine ecosystem.
  • The successful innovations developed through the Afri-Plastics Challenge have paved the way to revolutionise Africa’s approach to reducing reliance on plastic.
  • Out of the 9 shortlisted start-ups, five were women-led, and two from Kenya won a total of £500,000.

Kenya scored big at the inaugural Afri-Plastics Summit & Awards ceremony when five out of a total nine start-ups scooped £2M as part of the Afri-Plastics Challenge, a continent-wide plastics innovation challenge worth £4.1M.

The awards were the culmination of a four-year initiative designed by Challenge Works and funded by Global Affairs Canada to recognize trailblazing innovators that are tackling the global plastics problem and protecting the ocean. Out of the 9 shortlisted start-ups, five were women-led, and two from Kenya winning a total of £500,000, demonstrating the role women play …

afri plastic
  • Nine Kenyan startups are competing for a share of more than $4.4 million in funding as part of a Sub-Saharan-African plastics innovation challenge.
  • Kenyan and Nigerian startups dominated the cohort of finalists, with nine startups each, out of the total 40 finalists startups that made it to the final phase of the Prize.
  • Launched in July 2021, the Afri-Plastics Challenge received 1,141 entries from innovators across sub-Saharan Africa.  

Nine Kenyan startups are competing for a share of more than $4.4 million in funding as part of a Sub-Saharan-African plastics innovation challenge.

Run by innovation prize experts Challenge Works and funded by the Government of Canada, the
Afri-Plastics Challenge is tackling plastic waste and reducing pollution making its way into the marine
environment.

Kenyan and Nigerian startups dominated the cohort of finalists, with nine startups each, out of the total 40 finalists startups that made it to the final phase of …

"From left to right: Gabriella Kisoi of Challenge Works and Anna Ghnouly, Environment Officer, USAID Kenya & East Africa Environment Office, hand over a certificate of recognition to H.E. Francis Foleni Thoya, Deputy Governor and CEC for Environment and Solid Waste, as he launches the finalist phase of the Mombasa Plastics Prize. The Prize, backed by USAID and the Government of Canada, and run by Challenge Works, aims to inspire young innovators to tackle marine plastic waste within the county. Also in attendance, looking on, Naomi Whitbourn of Challenge Works and Aurelia Micko, Director of USAID Kenya & East Africa Environment Office
  • The Mombasa Plastics Prize has selected 60 innovators whose ideas have been selected to tackle marine plastic pollution along the coastline of Mombasa County.  
  • Aged 18-25, the finalists are grouped into 15 teams and are now in a race to be one of the top three teams to win over $70,000 (Sh7 million) of cash prizes.   
  • From January to May 2023, each team will develop their concepts. To help them build their prototypes into viable solutions, the teams will participate in a series of hack events, receive mentorship in entrepreneurship and business skills, and receive other capacity-building opportunities. 

The Mombasa Plastics Prize has selected 60 innovators whose ideas have been selected to tackle marine plastic pollution along the coastline of Mombasa County.  

Aged 18-25, the finalists are grouped into 15 teams and are now in a race to be one of the top three teams to win over $70,000 (Sh