The Research & Innovation for Climate (RICH) Hub is inviting African climate AI innovators, researchers, startups, organisations and solution developers to express their interest in joining its pipeline of innovations addressing climate resilience across Africa.

The initiative seeks to identify promising, Africa-led or Africa-based innovations that use artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies to address climate and environmental challenges. It focuses on solutions that have progressed beyond the idea stage and are already being tested or used in real-world settings.

The aim is to help promising innovations overcome barriers to adoption, implementation and scale, connecting them with technical expertise, research opportunities, potential partners and other forms of support.

Potential Funding and Support

Selected innovations may access:

• Potential scaling grants of up to US$200,000, subject to eligibility, assessment, available resources and alignment with the Hub's objectives.
• Technical and innovation support to strengthen solutions.
• Coaching and guidance tailored to the innovation's development stage.
• Research and piloting opportunities.
• Connections with researchers, funders, implementation partners and other ecosystem stakeholders.
• Knowledge exchange and increased visibility.
• Potential partnerships to support adoption and scaling.

Important: This is an Expression of Interest (EOI), not a guaranteed grant award. Submission does not guarantee selection, support or funding. The type and availability of support will depend on each innovation's needs, stage of development and fit with the RICH Hub's objectives.

Purpose and Objectives

The RICH Hub aims to build a pipeline of African climate AI innovations with the potential to strengthen climate resilience and contribute to sustainable development.

Its objectives include:

• Identifying promising AI-enabled and data-driven solutions to climate and environmental challenges.
• Supporting innovations that have reached the pilot stage or beyond.
• Connecting innovators with technical expertise, research opportunities and implementation partners.
• Addressing barriers to adoption, implementation and commercial or operational scale.
• Increasing the visibility of African climate technology innovations.
• Facilitating collaboration among innovators, researchers, organisations, funders and other ecosystem actors.

Priority Areas

The EOI is open to innovations addressing climate and environmental challenges relevant to African communities, ecosystems, institutions or economies.

Relevant areas may include:

• Climate resilience and adaptation: Technologies helping communities and institutions prepare for, respond to or adapt to climate impacts.
• Environmental monitoring and data intelligence: Solutions using AI and data to improve environmental assessment, monitoring and decision-making.
• Climate risk and decision support: Data-driven tools that help identify risks and inform climate-related planning and action.
• Sustainable development: Innovations supporting more resilient systems, livelihoods and environmental management.
• Applied climate AI: Solutions using AI or data-driven technologies as a meaningful component of addressing a defined climate or environmental problem.

These are illustrative areas; applicants should demonstrate the specific climate challenge their innovation addresses.

Who Can Apply?

The RICH Hub is seeking expressions of interest from:

• Climate AI innovators and solution developers.
• Startups and emerging technology ventures.
• Researchers and research teams.
• Organisations developing or implementing climate technologies.
• Other relevant innovation teams working on African climate challenges.

Eligibility Requirements

Innovations should meet the following requirements:

• African-led or Africa-based: The innovation should be developed by an African-led or Africa-based team or organisation.
• Relevant challenge: It must address a clearly defined climate or environmental challenge relevant to African communities, ecosystems, institutions or economies.
• Meaningful use of technology: AI and/or data-driven technologies must play a meaningful role in the solution.
• Development stage: The innovation must have reached the pilot stage or beyond and be tested or used with its intended communities, organisations or end users.
• Potential to scale: The innovation should demonstrate potential for further development, adoption or scaling.

Innovations that remain at the idea or concept stage without real-world testing may not fit the stated requirements.

Geographic Scope

The opportunity focuses on African-led or Africa-based climate innovations addressing challenges across the African continent.

Relevant countries may include:

• South Africa
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Ghana
• Uganda
• Tanzania
• Rwanda
• Ethiopia
• Senegal
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Botswana
• Namibia
• Morocco

This is an illustrative list of African markets, not an official exhaustive list of eligible countries. Applicants should describe where their innovation is based, where it operates and which African communities or ecosystems it serves.

Application Process

Interested innovators should complete the RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation Expression of Interest form and provide information about their innovation, including its development stage, objectives, intended users, ambitions and support needs.

Applicants may also choose whether to consent to having selected information about their innovation included in a potential public Climate AI Innovation Database. This database could help showcase innovations and facilitate connections with potential collaborators, researchers, funders and implementation partners.

Consent to public database inclusion is voluntary and is not a requirement for consideration by the Hub.

Important Dates

• Application status: Open for expressions of interest.
• Closing date: No fixed closing date stated.
• Submission basis: Rolling; expressions of interest are accepted as they are received and considered for relevant opportunities as they arise.

Innovators are encouraged to submit their information when ready rather than waiting for a fixed deadline.

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