AfDB Workshop Drives Next Phase of YouthADAPT Climate Programme
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has successfully convened a consultative workshop to accelerate youth-owned climate adaptation solutions under the Bank’s YouthADAPT programme.
The two-day event, held from 24–25 February 2026, brought together business leaders, policymakers, and development partners to reflect on past cycles and shape the programme’s next phase.
During the workshop, participants reviewed the outcomes of YouthADAPT’s first three cycles (2021–2025), which supported 39 enterprises across 20 African countries and generated approximately 11,000 direct and indirect jobs. Women-led businesses accounted for 63 per cent of the portfolio, highlighting the programme’s commitment to inclusive climate entrepreneurship.
Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, Manager for Climate and Green Growth at AfDB, emphasised the strategic role of youth in building climate resilience across the continent.
“Africa is the world’s youngest continent, yet it is also the most climate-vulnerable. Innovation is the bridge between these two realities,” Dorsouma said, noting the transformative potential of youth-led solutions in water, food systems, energy, circular economy, and climate-smart services.
Edith Ofwona Adera, YouthADAPT Coordinator, stressed the importance of evolving the programme to empower young innovators, while Mary Kashangiki, Manager for Early-Stage Finance at Financial Sector Deepening Africa, highlighted how the consultation would inform broader efforts to strengthen climate innovation financing across Africa.
Key discussions centred on moving beyond stand-alone grants, improving post-award support, enhancing market and investor linkages, and developing sustainable financing pathways for early-stage climate enterprises.
Participants recommended designing a clear capital transition pathway, combining catalytic grants with milestone-linked tranches, returnable or revenue-based instruments, and investor advisory mechanisms to de-risk follow-on finance.
The workshop concluded with agreement on next steps, including consolidating findings into a design-ready package, conducting targeted follow-up consultations, and collaborating with implementation partners to establish a scalable, partnership-driven model for YouthADAPT’s fourth cycle.
YouthADAPT is funded by AfDB’s Youth Entrepreneurship Multi-Donor Trust Fund (YEI MDTF) and the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to fostering youth-led innovation and sustainable climate solutions across Africa.
