Are you a young Kenyan innovator passionate about digital solutions for environmental sustainability? The UNEP Hack for the Environment: Digital Innovation for Climate, Nature, and Pollution offers you the opportunity to design cutting-edge tech tools addressing some of the most urgent global crises. Hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this hybrid hackathon seeks data-driven innovations that help solve the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Read on to find out how you can join this impactful programme and contribute to building a more resilient planet.
Event Overview
- Title: Hack for the Environment: Digital Innovation for Climate, Nature, and Pollution
- Organiser: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Format: Hybrid (Online and In-person sessions in Nairobi, Kenya)
- Event Dates: 26 July – 2 September 2025
- Application Deadline: 20 July 2025
The hackathon is part of UNEP’s broader Digital Transformation Agenda and supports the upcoming United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) with a focus on environmental sustainability through technology.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria to participate:
- Be 18 to 35 years old
- Be a resident of Kenya
- Apply as an individual or a team (4–6 members)
- Applications are strongly encouraged from women and persons with disabilities
Whether you’re a developer, data scientist, environmentalist, or a passionate changemaker, this is your chance to make a difference.
Challenge Focus: Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis
Participants are expected to build a digital or data-driven solution addressing at least one of the following environmental challenges:
- Climate Change
- Biodiversity Loss
- Pollution and Waste
Solutions may include predictive models, public APIs, dashboards, or decision-support tools. Public datasets and UNEP-provided data will be made available for use in your project.
Key Benefits for Participants
Joining the UNEP Hack for the Environment: Digital Innovation for Climate, Nature, and Pollution comes with significant perks:
- Expert mentorship and masterclasses from UNEP, Kenyan ministries, global tech firms, and academic institutions
- High-level networking with policy leaders and global sustainability actors
- Certificates of participation, digital credentials, and global recognition
- Finalist showcase at the UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi
- Pathway to scale: Solutions may enter UNEP’s Digital Accelerator Lab for further development and implementation
Time Commitment and Structure
The hackathon is designed to accommodate participants’ schedules with:
- Approximately 2 hours per week of structured online sessions across 4 weeks
- 1-week sprint for finalists to polish and pitch their solutions
Participants will also work asynchronously within their teams to build their projects.
Strategic Impact
This initiative aligns with UNEP’s goals under the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES) and supports:
- Using digital tools for sustainable development
- Minimising digital technology’s environmental footprint
- Accelerating tech solutions for environmental resilience
The hackathon reflects UNEP’s commitment to building an ecosystem of innovators who leverage data and technology to address urgent environmental needs.
How to Apply
Ready to hack for the planet? Follow these steps:
- Assemble your team or apply as a solo innovator
- Brainstorm and conceptualise a tech-driven environmental solution
- Gather relevant datasets and tools
- Submit your application before 20 July 2025
👉 Click here to apply
👉 Click here to read more about the programme
Final Thoughts
The UNEP Hack for the Environment: Digital Innovation for Climate, Nature, and Pollution is more than just a hackathon—it’s a movement for planetary resilience. By participating, you contribute to sustainable development in Kenya and globally, while gaining exposure, mentorship, and the chance to scale your innovation.
Contact grantsdatabase.org for proposal drafting, refining, and review.
