RICH Hub Call for African Climate AI Innovators 2026

The Research and Innovation for Climate (RICH) Hub is inviting African climate AI innovators, researchers, startups, organisations and technology developers to submit expressions of interest for innovations that can strengthen climate resilience across Africa. The initiative seeks practical solutions that use artificial intelligence (AI) and data driven technologies to address climate and environmental challenges affecting communities, ecosystems, institutions and economies.

Climate change creates significant challenges for Africa, including threats to livelihoods, food systems, water resources, infrastructure and sustainable development. AI and data technologies can help communities and organisations understand environmental risks, improve decisions and develop more effective responses. However, promising innovations can face difficulties moving from early development to practical implementation and wider adoption.

Through this call, the RICH Hub aims to identify innovations that have already progressed beyond the idea stage and are being tested or used in real world settings. The initiative is intended to help promising solutions develop further, connect with relevant partners and potentially expand their impact across African contexts.

About the Opportunity

The RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation call provides a pathway for African led or Africa based climate technology innovations to connect with technical expertise, research support, piloting opportunities and potential scaling partners.

The call focuses on innovations that combine AI or data driven technology with a clearly defined climate or environmental challenge. The solution should have reached at least the pilot stage, with evidence that it is being tested or used by its intended communities, organisations or end users.

The initiative is particularly relevant to innovators who have developed a practical solution and are looking for support to improve its effectiveness, strengthen its implementation or prepare it for wider use. Eligible applicants may come from research, entrepreneurship, technology development or organisations working on climate and environmental issues.

The call is an expression of interest rather than a guaranteed grant award. The Hub will assess submissions against its objectives, the innovation's development stage, eligibility and available resources before determining what support may be appropriate.

Opportunity Benefits

Selected innovations may be considered for the following forms of support:

• Technical assistance to strengthen the innovation and address implementation challenges.

• Coaching and guidance to support further development and practical application.

• Research opportunities that can help improve the solution and assess its effectiveness.

• Piloting opportunities to test or refine innovations in relevant settings.

• Connections with researchers, organisations, technology experts and other ecosystem partners.

• Knowledge exchange and opportunities to learn from other climate innovation initiatives.

• Increased visibility for innovations and their potential contribution to climate resilience.

• Opportunities to develop partnerships that can support adoption and expansion.

• Potential scaling grants of up to US$200,000, subject to assessment, eligibility, available resources and alignment with the Hub's objectives.

Important funding note: The maximum grant amount is a potential opportunity, not a guaranteed award for every applicant. Submitting an expression of interest does not guarantee selection, technical assistance or funding. The type and level of support will depend on the individual innovation and the Hub's assessment.

Areas of Innovation

The call is intended for practical innovations addressing climate and environmental challenges in African contexts. Applicants should be able to explain how their solution responds to a specific problem and how technology contributes to the proposed response.

Relevant areas may include:

• Climate resilience and adaptation.

• Environmental monitoring and data analysis.

• Climate risk assessment and decision support.

• AI applications that support climate related planning and action.

• Data driven solutions for communities, institutions and local economies facing environmental challenges.

• Technologies that improve the implementation, adoption or expansion of climate solutions.

These examples illustrate the broader focus of the call. Applicants should describe their actual innovation and its relevance rather than assume that every listed area is a separate funding category.

Eligibility Criteria

The RICH Hub is seeking African led or Africa based innovations that meet the following conditions:

• The innovation addresses a clearly defined climate or environmental challenge relevant to African communities, ecosystems, institutions or economies.

• Artificial intelligence or data driven technology plays a meaningful role in the solution.

• The innovation has reached the pilot stage or beyond.

• The solution is already being tested or used with its intended communities, organisations or end users.

• The innovation has potential for further development, adoption or expansion.

• The applicant can explain the problem being addressed and how the innovation responds to it.

Required Application Information

The announcement directs interested applicants to submit an Expression of Interest through the RICH Hub's application process. The published summary does not provide a complete fixed checklist of required documents, so applicants should consult the official form for the current questions and submission requirements.

Applicants should be ready to clearly communicate:

• The climate or environmental challenge their innovation addresses.

• The communities, organisations or end users the solution is designed to serve.

• How AI or data driven technology contributes to the solution.

• The current development stage of the innovation.

• Evidence that the solution has reached the pilot stage or is already being used.

• The innovation's potential for further development, adoption or scale.

• The kind of technical, research, piloting or partnership support that may help it progress.

Providing clear and specific information about the innovation can help the Hub understand its relevance and potential.

How to Apply

1. Review the official call. Read the RICH Hub Climate AI Innovation announcement and confirm that your innovation meets the stated eligibility criteria.
2. Assess your innovation's readiness. Make sure the solution has reached the pilot stage or beyond and is being tested or used in a real world setting.
3. Prepare your Expression of Interest. Describe the climate or environmental problem, explain the role of AI or data driven technology, and outline the innovation's current stage and potential.
4. Complete the official application form. Use the submission link provided on the official RICH Hub call page and answer the questions requested.
5. Submit when ready. Expressions of interest are accepted on a rolling basis. Keep a copy of your submission and monitor any communications from the Hub.
6. Check the terms of any subsequent support. If contacted about a potential opportunity, confirm the relevant conditions, assessment requirements and available resources before assuming that a grant or other assistance will be provided.