Deadline: August 31, 2026
Applications are open for the KCDF Young Innovators Challenge 2026. Through strategic partnerships, Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) has expanded the programme’s reach, enabling more innovators to access critical funding and technical support. In 2026, they are pleased to partner with I&M Foundation to implement the Young Innovators Challenge (YIC). While the name has evolved to reflect a broader innovation agenda, the Challenge remains committed to supporting youth-led solutions that address sustainable development challenges.
By combining resources and expertise, KCDF and I&M Foundation aim to award a total of 16 innovators (10 organisations and 6 Individuals) in this edition, seeking to strengthen their enterprises and accelerate scalable solutions that contribute to Kenya’s green transition. The finalists will be unveiled in 2027.
Grant
- Young Innovators: Up to KES 1,500,000
- Youth-led Organisations: Up to KES 5,000,000
Eligibility
Only innovators residing in Kenya and whose actions are implemented in Kenya are eligible to apply.
- Young Innovators Category: Individual youth (aged 15–35) with tested and impactful environmental innovations. (i.e an Individual or a group of individuals not formally registered)
- Youth-led Organisations Category: Registered youth-led organisations/companies with scalable sustainable solutions. (i.e Civil Society organisations, Company Limited with shares, Company limited by Guarantee etc.)
Evaluation Criteria
- Relevance and Innovation of the Solution
- The proposed innovation clearly addresses a sustainability challenge and demonstrates creativity, originality, and practical application.
- The solution contributes to environmental sustainability, climate action, responsible natural resource management, and/or community resilience.
- Youth Leadership and Community Impact
- The innovation demonstrates meaningful leadership by young people in designing, implementing, and scaling the solution.
- The solution shows potential to generate positive social, environmental, and economic benefits for communities, including improved livelihoods, employment opportunities, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.
- Sustainability, Scalability, and Replicability
- The innovation demonstrates the potential for long-term sustainability beyond the grant period.
- The solution has a clear pathway for growth, adoption, replication, or scaling to reach more communities and increase impact over time.
- Co-Design and Stakeholder Engagement
- The innovation demonstrates collaboration with communities, learning institutions, partners, or other stakeholders in the design and implementation of the solution.
- The approach reflects inclusive participation and responsiveness to community needs and local contexts.
- Contribution to Program Outcomes: The innovation has clear potential to contribute to one or more of the Challenge outcomes, including:
- Increased youth leadership and participation in sustainable development.
- Adoption of sustainable practices and technologies.
- Growth of youth-led enterprises and innovations.
- Improved livelihoods and economic opportunities.
- Enhanced community resilience to climate and environmental challenges.
Application
You will need to submit:
- A technical application
- A high-level budget
- Any supporting documents, such as videos or pictures
NOTE: You can download and complete the application offline using the provided forms and then upload your responses via the submission links below. This ensures you retain a copy for your records.
For more information, visit KCDF Young Innovators Challenge.
