MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2025: Prize, Rules And How To Apply
Applications are now open for the MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2025. Youth-led teams can pitch green business ideas and win up to $5,000. Full details on entry, stages, and prizes are outlined below.
The MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge is back for 2025, and this year the call is loud across the continent. It is a joint effort between telecoms giant MTN and the World Wide Fund for Nature, with one clear goal, to back young Africans building fresh answers to climate and environmental troubles.
The initiative fits neatly into WWF’s push for zero habitat loss, keeping species alive, and building healthy wildlife populations. It also carries the stamp of MTN’s pledge to support green entrepreneurship. For many, it is more than a contest, it is a chance to turn ideas into real-world impact.
About The MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge
The challenge runs in two steps. First, each country will shortlist applicants. From there, selected individuals will form teams of up to three members. They will spend a sprint week working through a human-centred design process, mapping out customers, shaping business models, and carving unique value points.
At the end of that sprint, teams will pitch their ideas before a panel of industry experts. Winners move forward to stage two, a Pan-African final, where the best of the best compete for the crown.
Benefits Of Joining
Winners from each country walk away with prizes valued at $5,000. But money is only part of the story. Participants gain:
- A platform to show their solutions to a larger audience
- Links with investors and potential partners
- A network of like-minded people across Africa
- Visibility that can spark further growth in their projects
For young innovators, this contest can be the launchpad they have been waiting for.
Who Can Apply
The challenge is open to:
- Youth aged 18 to 35 years
- Youth-led small and medium-sized businesses from select African countries
Teams should have a clear focus on tackling environmental issues within their local space.
How To Apply For The MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge
Applications are live online. Interested youth-led groups should head straight to the official MTN PachiPanda Challenge page to fill in the form. The deadline has not been specified, so acting quickly is the safest bet.
Final Word
Contests like this do more than hand out prize money. They spark conversations, build networks, and give young people the courage to push ahead with their ideas. For those with a plan in mind, the MTN/WWF Africa PachiPanda Challenge could be the door you have been waiting to knock on.