KCDF Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge 2025

The Young Environmentalist Innovative Challenge (YEIC) is an environmental innovation fund established by KCDF through the generous gift of Mackenzie Scott. Its aim is to develop action-oriented young people with strong values and commitment to environmental conservation.

YEIC invites submissions of innovative solutions that inculcate the spirit of environmental conservation and sustainable management. The challenge provides funding to young people and youth-led organisations/companies to scale innovative solutions to environmental issues.

This is the 3rd public call for applications to the KCDF YEIC fund. Its third edition seeks to identify, support, and scale impactful environmental innovations led by young individuals and youth-led organisations.

Under the theme “Scaling Innovations for Environmental Impact,” the focus is on elevating proven solutions that have demonstrated success at the community level and where innovators are ready to expand their reach and deepen their impact.

• Table of Content
• About Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF)
• Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge
• Aim and Benefits of Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge
• Requirements for Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF)

The Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) is a public charitable foundation founded in 1997 that supports sustainable community-driven development in Kenya. KCDF exists to support communities and duty-bearers to sustainably organise and address systemic barriers that perpetuate power imbalances, social injustice and poverty, hindering sustainable development. KCDF believes that lasting change is possible when communities initiate and drive their development agenda. KCDF works to enhance community growth and sustainability through capacity development, community philanthropy, and loc... continue reading

Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge

Aim and Benefits of Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge

Category 1: To award Three Young Environment Champions
Grant Amount: Up to KES 1,500,000
Eligibility: Individual youth (aged 15–35) with tested and impactful environmental innovations. (i.e
an Individual or a group of individuals not formally registered)

Category 2: To award five Youth-led Organisations
Grant Amount: Up to KES 5,000,000
Eligibility: Registered youth-led organisations/companies with scalable environmental projects. (i.e
Civil Society organisations, Company Limited with shares, Company limited by Guarantee e.t.c)

Requirements for Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge Qualification

1. The innovative solution has the ability to address environmental challenges.
2. The innovation can demonstrate that it has the potential to benefit the community in different areas, including education, livelihoods, and environmental stewardship of young people.
3. The innovation is sustainable and can demonstrate the potential to continue generating positive change and benefits to the community.Financial and operational capacity: The applying entities must demonstrate the
4. individual's or organisation's/company's ability to implement the innovation.

Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026

Application Deadline

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted via the links provided below. You may complete the application offline using the provided forms and then upload your
responses via the submission link.

1. Organization application Form F1: https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/Z87WSFKt
2. Individual application Form F2: https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/x/3OXp9C9t

You can download the word document templates HERE.

For more details, visit KCDF Programme webpage