The African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Zimbabwe (AYICCZim), backed by the British government, has launched the Climate Finance and Innovation Hub.
During the launch of the Youth Climate Finance and Innovations Hub in Harare on recently, the British deputy ambassador Jo Abbot believes the hub represents a powerful symbol of hope, opportunity, and empowerment for young people, offering innovative solutions that can have a significant impact not only in Zimbabwe but also globally.
“The hub represents more than just a technological innovation; it symbolises hope, opportunity, and empowerment for the youths with solutions that can impact the whole of Zimbabwe and the global village,” Abbot said.
Ambassador Jo Abbot stresses how important it is for governments and organizations to work together. This teamwork can create positive changes, help young people, and tackle big issues like climate change, as demonstrated by the UK’s commitment to working with Zimbabwe.
“May I restate the UK commitment to future collaborations on climate action. I want to commend and thank you for your personal keen interest in the work the UK is supporting in Zimbabwe in partnership with your government.”
This exciting new platform gives young people in Zimbabwe a place to show off their creative ideas for tackling climate change.
“By bridging the gap between passionate young minds and financial resources, we aspire to accelerate the development and implementation of solutions that address climate change,” said Abbot.
Environment Minister Sithembiso Nyoni, in a speech delivered on her behalf by Lovemore Dhobha, the deputy director for climate change management says there is urgent need for collective and decisive action to address the widespread and severe impacts of the climate crisis. She highlighted the far-reaching impacts of climate change on communities, ecosystems, economies, and social systems, stressing the need for urgent and collaborative action.
“As we gather here today, we are reminded of the urgency of the climate crisis. The impacts of climate change are real, pervasive and extensive, affecting our communities, ecosystems, livelihoods, economies, social fabric, health and education systems,” Nyoni said.
“It is, therefore, imperative that we act decisively and collaboratively to address these stinking challenges.
Nyoni praised the Innovation Hub as a sign of young leaders’ commitment to creating lasting solutions. This effort aims to help future generations build a sustainable future for Zimbabwe, the region, and the world.
“The establishment of this Innovation Hub with leadership from our youths presents a testament to your commitment to empower yourselves from within including extending this empowerment to the next generation of leaders who will help shape a sustainable future for Zimbabwe, the region and the whole world.”
Minister Nyoni said the hub will connect young innovators with mentors, banks, development partners, and industry experts who can help and support them.
“The opportunity to market and exchange ideas, knowledge and resources online and in real-time will not only increase our youths’ competitiveness in resource mobilisation, but also foster a culture of sharing and learning from one another that is essential for our nation’s progress,” she said.
The Zimbabwean Youth Climate Innovation Hub 2024 is a dynamic platform designed to bring together young climate innovators with development partners, donors, funders, experts in different sectors and philanthropists to be capacitated on how to come up with bankable green innovations and green projects that they can implement to combat climate change. This initiative will create a platform where young innovators can upload their profiles and innovation descriptions and have access to the development partners, donors and any form of financial support. This platform will also enable these partners and funders to have access to the young innovators as well.
Apart from the engagement linkages, young people will be capacitated to develop sustainable green projects, fundraise for them, and manage them. Furthermore, the initiative will connect young people with several mentors, experts, financial institutions, and development partners physically and virtually through a secure website platform established by AYICCZim.
This platform will constantly share updates, and opportunities and connect interested parties in supporting these innovations. This will, therefore, enhance the skills, sustainability and bankability of the innovations that young people come up with. It will also increase their competitiveness in their applications and access to finance.
