EIT Climate-KIC seeks African start-ups with local solutions for climate adaptation and resilience

Kenya, 10 November. The Adaptation and Resilience ClimAccelerator in Africa has launched a call to local entrepreneurs to access funding, expertise, and mentorship via EIT Climate-KIC’s second African-wide accelerator. The programme is focused on scaling solutions that address physical climate risks or build the resilience of communities across the African continent. 

The impacts of climate change are felt around the world, but especially in Africa where extreme weather poses threats to human health and safety, food and water security and socio-economic development. As a result, there is an increasing demand for new solutions and services that help to address these hazards, providing a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs in this growing market. 

The call is open to African innovators addressing any of the region’s climate risks such as extreme temperatures and precipitation, drought, cyclones, storms, floods and sea level rise among others, to support the continent in catalysing systemic change toward a climate-resilient future.  

“The private sector has a critical role to play in addressing the climate challenges in Africa. Empowering youth through enterprise development support will unlock innovations while ensuring social development. KCL is at the frontline of realising the potential of African innovators and we are happy to work with EIT Climate-KIC and our partner Concree SAS to deliver the climate adaptation and resilience accelerator,” said Vanam Prabhakar, CEO of KCIC Consulting Limited.  

“This programme is unique in a way that it provides critical elements for the success of a climate venture to sector expertise coaching, mentoring from experienced and well-networked entrepreneurs, strategic partnership with organizations that can help scale-up your innovation, and a grant that will give you the opportunity to get ready for funding from capital investors,” said Babacar Birane, Co-founder and CEO at Concree SAS. 

Partner organisations KCIC Consulting Limited (KCL) and Concree SAS are seeking 16 start-ups to scale in the Adaptation and Resilience (A&R) ClimAccelerator in Africa, supported by EIT Climate-KIC and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland (‘Irish Aid’).  

The five-month programme offers tailored business coaching, professional guidance on finance, support defining the climate impact potential of their solution, preparation for future investment opportunities and a grant of €2,500. The A&R ClimAccelerator will run from November 2022 through May 2023. 

Applications are open from now until 26 November 2022 on the website: https://www.kcicconsulting.com/arclimacceleratorafrica/ 

Information for Applicants: 

Eligibility criteria 

All the applications will be assessed by a team of judges/experts. 

• The business must be incorporated in an African country. 
• The business should be incorporated for 5 years or less. 
• The business should be a for-profit entity. 
• The business idea should be an adaptation and resilience solution: 
• Addressing ‘systemic’ barriers to adaptation by strengthening users’ ability to understand and respond to physical risks and impacts. And/or 
• Contribute to preventing or reducing current and future adverse impacts on people, assets, economic activities, or nature caused by climate change. 

About the EIT Climate-KIC  
EIT Climate-KIC is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon, climate-resilient society. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, EIT Climate-KIC identifies and supports innovation that helps society mitigate and adapt to climate change believing that a decarbonised, sustainable economy is not only necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change but presents a wealth of opportunities for business and society. 
For more info: climate-kic.org  

About ClimAccelerator 
ClimAccelerator is the main climate innovation solution provider in Europe with a 10-year track record, with over 1,500 solutions supported and nearly €1 billion of capital secured.  
For more info: https://climaccelerator.climate-kic.org 

About the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland (‘Irish Aid’) 
Ireland’s development cooperation programme aims to reduce poverty, hunger and humanitarian need, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. By supporting long term development and providing humanitarian assistance, Irish Aid is helping to build better futures for some of the world’s poorest communities. 
For more info: https://www.irishaid.ie/ 

About KCIC Consulting Limited (KCL) 
KCL has a wide regional presence particularly within the East, West, and Southern Africa. They implemented capacity building, business development and market access projects for SMEs in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Botswana, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. The KCL team of experts bring together combined experience in enterprise development, sustainability, fundraising, capacity building, research, among others within the wider Agricultural, Energy, Waste management, Water resource management, and Commercial forestry sectors. 
For more info: https://www.kcicconsulting.com/ 

About Concree SAS 
Concree SAS specializes in design & management of solutions and entrepreneurial programs to help early-stage start-up to growth from idea to scalable business model. Founded in 2014, Concree.com is the first virtual incubation platform in Africa. 
For more info: https://concree.com/ 

Contact Information 

For questions regarding the A&R ClimAccelerator programme and application process please contact:
Kelvin Mwendwa – kelvin.mwendwa@kcicconsulting.com  

For general enquiries on EIT Climate-KIC’s programmes in Africa please reach out to:
Sophie White – sophie.white@climate-kic.org