Building sustainable healthcare solutions for a changing climate

Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with over 60% of its people under the age of 25. When climate change impacts the continent, it disproportionately affects young people by worsening existing barriers to essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Extreme weather events make it even more difficult for youth — especially young women and girls — to access vital SRH services, increasing their vulnerability to unplanned pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, and gender-based violence (GBV).

For example, climate change threatens agriculture and informal jobs, which many young people and their families depend on. This economic instability may push young girls into transactional sex for survival, raising the risk of unplanned pregnancies, STIs, and GBV. Additionally, floods and extreme weather events damage healthcare facilities, disrupt supply chains, and block access to contraceptives, maternal care, and STI treatment, particularly in rural areas.

Tackling climate change with sustainable, youth-led solutions

Recognizing these challenges, UNFPA launched the Let’s Hack Climate Change Hacklab in 2024. This initiative aims to build climate resilience through innovation-driven, youth- and women-led action.

The Climate Change Hacklab aims to partner with young people to identify and nurture innovative solutions that strengthen the resilience of individuals and communities facing the impacts of climate change.

Kigen Korir, sexual and reproductive health and youth advisor — UNFPA Kenya.

With support from Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) Kenya, Nailab Accelerator provided coaching and mentorship to 14 innovators selected from a competitive pool of over 100 applicants. These 14 innovations include teams from nine counties across Kenya, with over half of the finalists currently living in rural areas or informal settlements.

During an intensive bootcamp, Nailab connected these young innovators with top entrepreneurs for mentorship on product development, business modeling, go-to-market strategies, and pitch preparation. UNFPA further equipped them with insights into the link between climate change and SRH, ensuring their solutions addressed this critical intersection.

At Nailab, our mission is to provide a platform where innovators can build solutions that solve real problems in their communities and the continent. Innovation isn’t just about ideas — it requires the right guidance and mentorship from those who have walked the journey before. We take a hands-on approach, asking the tough but necessary questions: Who is your customer? How many have you spoken to this week? We dive into the practical realities of building a business. During this bootcamp, we worked closely with innovators to refine their products, understand their market, identify early adopters, set pricing strategies, and master the art of pitching their ideas.

Sam Gichuru, CEO Nailab

Following the bootcamp, the innovators presented their projects at a public pitch event, where two finalists were awarded $5,000 in seed funding to further develop their ideas. These finalists also represented Kenya at the Regional Hacklab Pitch Competition in Kigali, Rwanda, on November 7, 2024, during the YouthConnekt Africa Summit. Competing alongside winners from Mozambique, Madagascar, and South Sudan, for a chance to secure an additional $10,000 grant from UNFPA.

Meet our innovators

• Eco-Prints Generation is transforming plastic waste into eco-friendly 3D printing filaments, which are used to create visual aids that improve understanding of SRH topics among learners while promoting climate resilience. This initiative won the national competition receiving $5,000 in seed funding and later secured an additional $10,000 at the regional event in Kigali.
• Signvrse: An AI-powered platform using 3D avatars to provide real-time sign language interpretation for Deaf women during medical visits, ensuring equitable access to healthcare. Signvrse was a national finalist, receiving $5,000 in seed funding.
• JangaVoice: Enables grassroots communities in Turkana to receive early warning alerts for climate disasters and report potential risks to disaster response teams before they escalate.
• KIDII: An initiative based in Kakuma, Turkana County, that empowers girls by providing access to sustainable menstrual hygiene solutions, while also promoting environmental conservation. By employing local women in the community to produce the reusable sanitary pads, the project creates economic opportunities, enhances women’s livelihoods, and strengthens the community’s resilience to climate change.

Bonnie Mwanzia, Co-founder and CEO, KIDII

• MamaCare: A mobile app for women and girls in Turkana County to track pregnancies, receive remote consultations, and schedule in-person check-ups with healthcare specialists.
• Nova Pads: Tackles menstrual poverty and environmental pollution by creating biodegradable sanitary pads from locally sourced materials like corn stalks, promoting affordability and sustainability.
• Polycom Girls: Provides biodegradable sanitary pads to schoolgirls in Kibera slums, ensuring they never miss school due to their menstrual cycle, supporting education and empowerment.

Malkia John, Founder and CEO, Sauti Salama

• Sauti Salama is a digital platform providing survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya with a safe and accessible space to report incidents and connect with essential services, addressing critical barriers like stigma, lack of resources, and inadequate support systems.
• SolgenH2: Provides reliable power to remote hospitals and medical facilities by storing excess solar energy as hydrogen, ensuring continuous electricity for essential services.
• Tunza Mama Atunze Mazingira: Empowers mothers and young women in Turkana with solar-powered irrigation and smart farming techniques to establish fruit tree farms, enhancing food security and climate resilience.

Julia Marko, Co-founder, Tunza Mama Atunza Mazingira

• Trees for Girls: Combines climate action with SRH by planting trees to mitigate drought effects while educating communities on reproductive health.
• United Solution: A women-led waste management initiative in Nyalenda that creates jobs for young mothers while tackling climate change through innovative waste solutions.
• X-taka Africa: Converts disposable diaper waste into eco-friendly hydrochar, which serves as a soil conditioner, water purifier, and renewable fuel to reduce pollution and support sustainable development in African cities!
• YNA Kenya: Builds a network of female riders using electric motorcycles to provide safe, eco-friendly delivery services, reducing carbon emissions and promoting gender equality in transport.

The Let’s Hack Climate Change Hacklab demonstrates how youth-led innovations can bridge the gap between climate action and sexual and reproductive health services. By fostering innovation, mentorship, and funding opportunities, UNFPA and its partners empower young Africans to drive impactful solutions for a more resilient and equitable future.

With the continued support of organizations like Nailab, DSW Kenya, and UNFPA, these young innovators are not just responding to climate change — they are actively shaping a sustainable and inclusive future for Africa’s youth.