Climate smart innovation among initiatives considered for lucrative grant launched in Kenya

As cities across the continent confront intensifying climate shocks — from extreme heat and flooding to water scarcity and rapid, unplanned growth — a new partnership has stepped forward with an ambitious plan to accelerate climate-smart urban innovations.

Climate-smart practices are among the initiatives targeted under the new $75,000 (Ksh. 9.7 million) African Cities Innovation Fund, unveiled to support smarter, healthier and more equitable cities across Africa. The grant initiative seeks to unlock solutions to some of Africa’s most urgent urban challenges.

The Million Lives Collective (MLC) and the Judith Neilson Foundation announced the African Cities Innovation Fund (ACIF) in Nairobi on Wednesday, in a programme designed to catalyse collaborative innovations that make African cities equitable, climate-resilient and future-ready.

The initiative, launched at the International Development Innovation Alliance’s (IDIA) Global Summit, targets enterprises owned by two or more innovators working in partnership. The application window is set to open between March and May 2026.

According to Abi Taylor, Innovation Lead at the Judith Neilson Foundation, innovators will soon be invited to apply in pairs or groups for grants of up to $75,000 to design and test bold solutions to the continent’s most pressing urban and climate-related challenges. These include heat-resilient infrastructure, circular waste systems, clean mobility, resource-efficient housing, resource-efficient housing, and digital tools that enhance climate preparedness and adaptation.

“African cities are growing at a dramatic pace, creating immense opportunity, challenge and change. Ensuring that cities are places where people can thrive, especially under intensifying climate pressures, calls for imagination, ambition, innovation and collaboration,” Taylor said.

She added: “We are delighted to partner with the Million Lives Collective to enable innovators to test bold climate-smart partnerships and create impact for those who need it most.”

Beyond funding, selected innovators will receive tailored technical support, including coaching, partnership facilitation, and access to global development leaders through IDIA’s Collaboration Lab on Collaborative Scaling for Exponential Impact.

Jite Phido, Senior Programme Manager at MLC and Results for Development, emphasised the importance of amplifying local climate solutions that are already demonstrating impact:

“Across Africa, innovators and community organisations are redefining mobility, expanding access to essential services, strengthening local economies, and building resilience to climate and economic shocks. Our call for African urban innovations aims to spotlight these efforts and identify new pathways for exponential climate impact through collaborative action,” Phido said.

Edwin Muroki of 4Life Solutions Kenya, a previous grant recipient, noted: “Our experience in Kenya shows that climate-relevant solutions scale faster when partnerships build community trust and align delivery models to local realities.”

The African Cities Innovation Fund (ACIF) is encouraging African innovators working to advance climate-resilient cities through circular production and waste systems to look out for the upcoming grant call.