UNICEF Climate Innovation Challenge 2025
Applications are now open for the 2025 UNICEF Climate Innovation Challenge.
UNICEF is launching a call for solutions from emerging markets in collaboration with India Health Fund (IHF), and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). To maximize impact, UNICEF will foster collaboration between early-stage frontier tech ventures and help scale proven climate adaptation solutions. This dual track approach seeks to drive impact and provide long-term sustainability. This opportunity provides mentorship, technical support, and a platform to showcase innovations to global partners and potential investors.
Benefits
Selected startups will benefit from more than ten hours of dedicated mentorship from UNICEF and its partners, providing expert guidance on scaling and strengthening their innovations. They will also receive targeted technical support to unlock future investment opportunities and gain a platform to present their solutions to international partners, funders, and stakeholders. This exposure will not only increase visibility but also open doors for long-term collaborations and sustainable growth.
The UNICEF Venture Fund is particularly seeking solutions that:
- address challenges to accelerate results for children
- are optimized for low-resource environments (eg, low connectivity or limited mobile access)
- focus on reducing, rather than widening, inequalities, delivering results for diverse users and communities
- can deliver in multiple languages, including local and less used languages
Requirements
Companies need to fulfill the following mandatory selection criteria to be considered:
- be registered as a private for-profit company
- be registered in a UNICEF program country ( See the list of eligible countries here )
- have a working prototype or minimum viable product of the proposed solution, ideally, showing promising results
- be open source or willing to be open source
- have the potential to positively impact the lives of the most vulnerable children
- generate publicly exposed real-time data that is measurable
Why Apply?
The Climate Innovation Challenge 2025 is not just a competition—it is a gateway to opportunities that can redefine your start-up’s trajectory. Some of the key benefits include:
- Global Visibility: Gain recognition by being part of a UNICEF-led initiative supported by international partners.
- Mentorship & Resources: Receive expert guidance from world-class leaders in climate adaptation and frontier technologies.
- Scalability: Access the tools, funding opportunities, and connections needed to expand your solution beyond local markets.
- Social Impact: Play a direct role in creating sustainable solutions that improve the lives of children and communities in need.
- Collaborative Ecosystem: Connect with like-minded innovators, impact investors, and institutions focused on tackling climate challenges.
Application Deadline: October 21, 2025
Also Read: Other Opportunities to Apply
