Hack for the Environment - UNEP, GIZ, Action Lab
Mobilize and empower Kenyan youth to develop practical, scalable digital and data-driven solutions to the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—while strengthening skills in AI, GIS, and human-centred design and identifying solutions that could feed into UNEP’s Digital Accelerator Lab for broader scalability.
IDI's Role & Contribution
IDI provided technical and advisory leadership by refining locally grounded problem statements, leading the Design Thinking for Environmental Solutions masterclass (human-centred design, stakeholder mapping, storytelling), mobilizing mentors and compiling datasets, and offering hands-on mentorship to help teams refine prototypes and strengthen team balance.
Our Approach
A structured end-to-end participant journey from planning to execution, combining phased delivery (launch to UN showcase), targeted capacity building through partner masterclasses (e.g., design thinking, AI for sustainability, pitching), and iterative development via design sprints and mentor feedback—delivered in a hybrid format with ecosystem partners (academia and tech institutions) to recruit diverse and inclusive talent.
Outputs & Results
Measurable outcomes achieved through the programme's core activities.
DEVELOPERS ENGAGED
Project Outcome & Impact
Over 1,000 applicants participated in the pipeline, with 157 innovators selected into 38 teams; 7 finalist teams showcased at the UN Office in Nairobi, and 3 winning solutions were selected—Msitu Guard (tree survival improvement from 30% to 93%), Earthwise Insights (community impact simulator for recyclers), and Marina AI (mangrove health prediction)—with top solutions positioned for integration into UNEP’s global digital innovation pipeline toward UNEA-7 goals.
Partners
As we work to scale health systems across Africa, we are proud to partner with leading national and global organizations.
![UNEP](\"/static/images/partners/unep.ce251100a61e.webp\")
![GIZ](\"/static/images/partners/challenge-works.8703a9141cad.webp\")