Youth Ecopreneur Winner 2024 wins pitch competition at COP16
Young ecopreneurs are driving innovative land restoration efforts. At COP16, the UNCCD Land of Opportunities Pitch Competition celebrated their groundbreaking solutions, empowering them with funding, resources, and global recognition – and ultimately to become the next generation of environmental leaders.
As the world faces pressing environmental challenges, it is time to shift the focus from problems to solutions. At the forefront of this effort are young changemakers—leaders not just of tomorrow, but of today.
On 4 December, during Land Day at COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Land of Opportunities Pitch Competition highlighted the innovations of young ecopreneurs supported through the Ye! Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO), powered by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the G20 Global Land Initiative (UNCCD).
The event was a catalyst for progress, to achieve four transformative objectives:
- Showcasing cutting-edge approaches to land restoration.
- Facilitating access to funding and resources for ecopreneurs in need of support to scale their ideas into global impact.
- Building strategic networks that link innovators with stakeholders across industries and regions.
- Empowering young visionaries to take the lead in driving meaningful change.
Meet the ecopreneurs
Four leaders presented their groundbreaking solutions to address COP16’s challenge of Desertification:
- Maryanne Gichanga, AgriTech Analytics Ltd (Kenya)
- Fernando de Lucca, Ceres Seeding (Brazil)
- Rokiatou Traoré, Herou Alliance (Mali)
- Andrés Bisonó León, SOS Carbon (Dominican Republic and USA)
Each participant delivered a three-minute pitch and a five-minute Q&A session. Beyond the competition, the ecopreneurs shared personal insights and challenges in an engaging fireside chat.
A winner emerges
The competition was fierce, with the jury impressed by the ingenuity and passion of all participants. Maryanne Gichanga emerged as the winner, earning the following prizes to scale her innovative solutions:
- $50,000 Winner Grant: Sponsored by InTent, this grant will enable Maryanne to advance sustainable agriculture and analytics.
- Invitation to the Kubuqi Desert Forum: Maryanne will show her work on a global stage in China, joining a prominent platform dedicated to promoting sustainable development.
- Capacity-building support:
- International Trade Centre (ITC): Maryanne will receive tailored coaching, guidance, and access to ITC projects.
- GSMA Support Package: Customized training following a 1:1 consultation to address specific business needs.
The pitch-contest participants are part of various programmes supporting youth, entrepreneurship and advocacy, including the Ye! Youth Ecopreneur Programme (YECO), powered by the International Trade Centre and the G20 Global Land Initiative (UNCCD), the Great Green Wall, and Land Hero programme.
