Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network (#GreenGrowthAfrica); formerly – International Support Network for African Development, is a UNEP-accredited non-governmental organization that is committed to innovation, development, and implementation of ‘greened’ socio-economic development solutions to address Africa’s development challenges.

Green Growth Africa operates an interdisciplinary network of experienced professionals, researchers and students across the globe who are committed to the realization of a socially-inclusive economic growth and development path that is low-carbon, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient; maintains and enhances biodiversity and ecosystems.
In a bid to empower African youths with action competences through the acquisition and application of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills in addressing environmental and social challenges within their local communities and raising a new generation of 21st century green workforce who are skilled at developing solutions to 21st century challenges, #GreenGrowthAfrica is implementing the ‘Eco Heroes Initiative’.

Formerly known as the Environmental Education Programmed (EEP), Eco Heroes Initiative adopts a co-creation and learners’-centered approach that utilizes, maximizes, and leverages the high enthusiasm, technology savvy, resilience, and exploratory spirit of the youth in conceptualizing and implementing innovative local environmental solutions that also address socioeconomic needs in Africa, particularly in their local communities. The initiative fosters practical, experiential, and hands-on acquisition of problem-solving skills by addressing real-world environmental problems in connection to themes of socioeconomic development (health, energy access, education, among others).
The initiative empowers young people with action competences that will enable them to develop capacity and long-term commitment to sustainability for everyday life, career engagement or voluntary service as environmentalists or influencers for the environment, both at local and international levels.

The 2022/2023 edition of the Eco Heroes Initiative will be focused on Sustainable Development and anchored on three thematic pillars, namely; Sustainable Energy; Sustainable Aviation; and Climate Change. Given #GreenGrowthAfrica’s commitment to developing environmental solutions that also address socioeconomic challenges in Africa, the ability of the prospective student teams to link the projects ideas on sustainable energy, sustainable aviation, and/or climate change to any themes of socioeconomic development (such as health, education, among others) provides an added advantage.

About Green Growth Africa

Green Growth Africa is a UNEP-accredited non-governmental organisation that is committed to raising global and multi-stakeholder support for greener and climate-resilient Africa through various programmes and initiatives. The organisation operates a multidisciplinary network of about 1,500 professionals, researchers, students, and youth from 140 countries across the globe who are committed to green growth in Africa. Headquartered in Ibadan, Nigeria; Green Growth Africa has team members in 10 countries across five continents of the world

The EcoHeroes Initiative

• CategoryEntrepreneurs
• OrganisationGreen Growth Africa
• Country to study–
• School to study–
• Course to studyNot specified
• Application DeadlineJanuary 27, 2023

Aim and Benefits of The EcoHeroes Initiative

• Each selected team will receive;
• Mentorship support from international and local experts as technical advisors to refine and help with the implementation of the project through quality mentorship and advisory.

  (Please note: Student teams with innovative project ideas on sustainable aviation may have members of staff of Pratt & Whitney – a U.S-based Aviation company as Advisors, subject to evaluations)

• Capacity development through critical thinking, hands-on project implementation, online webinar presentation and training
• Up to USD 500 funding for the implementation of project idea for all selected teams. The ideas will be innovative projects that connect sustainable energy, sustainable aviation and/or climate action with other themes of development and livelihood (such as health, poverty, etc). Project ideas that include outdoor activities are strongly encouraged. Please, note that the implementation of the projects should be between 3-6 months
• Certificate of participation
• Opportunity to share their projects with other secondary school students across the globe
• Leverage on the global visibility and publicity of #GreenGrowthAfrica, NAAEE, and Pratt & Whitney
• At the completion of the projects, additional monetary prize will be awarded to the top three “EcoHeroes” Clubs with the most innovative and impactful projects to support the operation of their club after the completion of their projects sponsored within EcoHeroes Initiative.

Requirements for The EcoHeroes Initiative Qualification

• Each secondary school will be represented by a team comprising of at least five (5) students and a coordinating teacher (more students and teachers are allowed depending on the nature of their project). Applications are welcome from any African country.
• Each team is expected to identify Sustainable Energy; Sustainable Aviation; and Climate Change challenges in their local (or global) communities, brainstorm and propose an idea of how they could address the challenge or meet the need.
• Only innovative and inspiring project ideas on sustainable energy, sustainable aviation and climate change will be considered. Project ideas must also express and give room for creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and other green skills.

Interview date, Process and Venue for The EcoHeroes Initiative

Deadline for applications (Batch 1): January 20, 2023 (11:59HRS GMT+1)

Deadline for applications (Batch 2): January 27, 2023 (11:59HRS GMT+1), subject to availability of funds after the consideration of applications from Batch 1 applications

Documents Required for Application

• Letter of support: A letter from the school’s management expressing its support for school’s team participation in the programme, and the commitment of the school to the operation and sustainability of the club, “EcoHeroes” after the completion of project funded within EcoHeroes Initiative. The letter should also indicate that the school has/will provide electricity access and internet access as well as a projector and camera for quality and short video recordings.

Application Deadline

January 27, 2023