MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and the World Wide Fund (WWF), through its local partner Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), have partnered to launch the PachiPanda Challenge for Nigeria in 2024. This initiative will encourage youths and youth-led SMEs to create new ideas that tackle current environmental challenges and promote sustainability through technological solutions.

The PachiPanda Challenge invites young entrepreneurs and SMEs from Nigeria (university and college students) to enter their solutions to the challenge statements on:

1. Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is a grave concern in Nigeria, with far-reaching environmental and health implications. The adverse effects on ecosystems and human well-being are undeniable. Recycling presents a viable solution to prevent plastic from polluting landfills and waterways. However, despite the clear advantages of recycling, not enough action is being taken. There is a noticeable absence of user-friendly and technology-driven solutions to promote plastic recycling.

Innovating and developing technology-based solutions is imperative to streamline recycling processes, enhance public engagement, and provide tangible incentives for effective plastic waste management.

Demonstrate how technology can be used to promote the recycling of plastics.

2. Climate Change

Unpredictable weather patterns underscore the escalating impact of climate change, with early rains, extreme temperatures, and floods affecting communities nationwide. Vulnerable groups are particularly at risk, facing increased exposure to climate-related disasters. Urgent action is needed to address these challenges and build resilience in a changing climate.

What innovative technological solution can you propose to improve the adaptation and mitigation of climate change impact on vulnerable communities?

3. Circular Economy

There have been numerous discussions about the potential advantages of environmental sustainability, restoration, and conservation. One feasible approach to achieving this is implementing a circular economy (Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse). This benefits the environment and provides financial incentives to all participants in the value chain.

Given the large population of unemployed youth in Nigeria, implementing a circular economy has the potential to offer profitable and sustainable employment opportunities while solving environmental problems.

How can you leverage technology to establish a circular economy in your community, advancing conservation and sustainability in a clear and measurable way, offering economic gains?

4. Community Development

Nigerian communities face many environmental challenges, including floods, deforestation, coastal erosion, desertification, extreme temperatures, heavy rainfall, and drought.

Provide an innovative solution to an environmental challenge in your community using technology while focusing on the solution’s long-term sustainability. 

Rules and eligibility:

• The Challenge is open to individuals or teams residing in Nigeria.
• Participants should be between 16 and 35.
• You may participate as an individual or form a team of maximum three members.
• Youth-led SMEs with early or idea stage solutions are free to participate, maximum of three members.
• All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
• Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
• MTN Nigeria and Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• Participants found in violation of the PachiPanda Challenge “Terms and Conditions” or suspected of fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behaviour, will be disqualified from the Challenge.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its discretion.

MTN South Africa in collaboration with WWF South Africa and the Nedbank Foundation launches the first ever PachiPanda Challenge for South Africa in 2024.
This initiative aims to mobilise the youth and youth-led SMEs to create tech-based solutions to address current environmental challenges and to promote the objectives of the Just Energy Transition in South Africa.

The PachiPanda Challenge will:

• Call upon youth and youth-led SMEs to create and develop innovative and sustainable solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Capacitate and empower the South African youth to address environmental challenges experienced in the country.
• Increase the participation of young people in environmental sustainability and climate action in South Africa.
• Promote entrepreneurship in the green economy to facilitate increase of green jobs.
• Enhance young people’s knowledge of climate change challenges and community-led sustainable solutions.
• Support innovative and sustainable solutions for environmental challenges.

The PachiPanda Challenge invites young entrepreneurs and SMEs from South Africa between the ages of 16 and 35 to enter their solutions to the challenge statements on:

• Integration of Green Energy Sources
• Comprehensive Waste Management Solutions
• Water Conservation and Management

Challenge  Statement 1: Integration of Diverse Green Energy Sources

Develop a tech-based solution that facilitates the integration of a diverse range of  energy sources into the energy grid. The solution should enhance energy efficiency, promote the use of underutilized green resources, and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy system.

Challenge Statement 2: Comprehensive Waste Management

Develop a tech-based solution that addresses comprehensive waste management. The solution should aim to reduce the generation of waste, improve recycling and upcycling methods, and engage communities in sustainable waste practices.

Challenge Statement 3: Water Conservation and Management

Design a comprehensive, tech-based solution that enhances water conservation and management practices across various sectors, including residential, agricultural, and industrial. The solution should address both the efficient use of water resources and the prevention of water pollution, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to ensure long-term sustainability.

Rules and eligibility:

• The Challenge is open to individuals or teams residing in South Africa.
• Participants should be between 16 and 35 years old.
• You may participate as an individual or form a team of maximum three members.
• Youth-led SMEs with early or idea stage solutions are free to participate.
• All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
• Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
• MTN SA and WWF South Africa employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• Participants found in violation of the PachiPanda Challenge “Terms and Conditions” or suspected of fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behaviour, will be disqualified from the Challenge.
• The organising committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its discretion.

The MTN Zambia Foundation and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia have partnered to launch the Pachipanda Innovation Challenge 2024 (Pachipanda 3.0). This initiative provides a platform for Zambian youth and youth-led small and medium enterprises to submit technology-based initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges that Zambia is currently facing due to climate change.

The PachiPanda Challenge will:

• Encourage Zambian youths and youth-led SMEs to submit innovative tech-based initiatives addressing climate change issues.
• Provide support and guidance to the top 10 finalists to equip them with the necessary skills to advance their projects.
• Increase the involvement of young people in understanding and addressing climate change challenges and sustainable community solutions.
• Back innovative and sustainable environmental solutions, particularly focusing on climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

The Pachipanda Innovation Challenge invites young Zambian entrepreneurs and youth-led SMEs to submit their solutions to the challenge statements.

Youth-led Green Innovations & Technologies:

The Pachi Panda Innovation Challenge is a call to action for all young innovators and techies (or tech geeks) to devise solutions that restore the balance of nature and tackle the effects of climate change negatively impacting communities. Join the many youths taking the lead in shaping Zambia’s innovations, technologies, and ideations for climate action.

Green Entrepreneurship & Skills for Youths:

Inspire the next generation of green entrepreneurs and skills developers in championing Zambia’s pathways to a green economy through sustainable business ideations, technologies, and innovations that provide solutions to Zambia’s climate crisis and environmental challenges.

Energy and Water Resilience:

The current drought experienced in Zambia has led to nationwide load-shedding impacting businesses and livelihoods. We are calling out for innovative sustainable energy solutions to develop technologies that will reduce dependency on water levels for power generation. Ideas to create smart water management systems for conservation in rural and urban areas are needed.

Food security, sustainable agriculture, and waste management:

Identify smart agriculture techniques using digital technology for smart irrigation focused on drought-resistant crops. Calling on ideas that develop tech-driven waste management solutions to reduce pollution, improve public health, and promote recycling.

Rules and eligibility:

• The Challenge is open to Zambian youths.
• Participants should be between 16 and 35.
• You may participate as an individual or form a team of a maximum of three members.
• Youth-led SMEs with early or idea-stage solutions are free to participate, maximum of three members.
• All participants must register online and submit entries through the designated portal before the deadline.
• Participants should provide accurate and complete personal information during registration.
• MTN Zambia and WWF Zambia employees, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
• Participants found in violation of the PachiPanda Challenge “Terms and Conditions” or suspected of fraud, plagiarism, or unethical behavior, will be disqualified from the Challenge.
• The organizing committee reserves the right to disqualify any individual or team at its discretion.