The story started here, Climathon is a climate innovation event led by the local community, bringing together young innovators, experts, and various stakeholders to create solutions for the increasingly severe challenges within the community. This event was organized by the Environmental Conservation Community of Tanzania (ECCT) with the main goal of empowering young people, fostering innovation, and accelerating community-driven solutions for tangible results. Climathon is a global initiative powered by Climate-KIC in support of Irish Aid, and has been running since 2015, engaging thousands of participants across hundreds of cities worldwide to co-create local climate solutions. Thus, through this program in Mwanza, 2026 which lasted two days 30th April - 1st May, the focus was specifically on building the capacity of participants to understand how human activities and climate change contribute to local challenges in the Lake Zone. Through in-depth training and expert mentorship, these young people had the opportunity to develop ideas that can strengthen the community’s ability to withstand disasters and stimulate positive behavioral change for sustainable living.
WHAT EXACTLY IS CLIMATHON? AND WHY
DOES IT HAPPEN?
The story started here, Climathon is a climate innovation event led by the local community,
bringing together young innovators, experts, and various stakeholders to create
solutions for the increasingly severe challenges within the community. This
event was organized by the Environmental Conservation Community of Tanzania
(ECCT) with the main goal of empowering young people, fostering innovation, and
accelerating community-driven solutions for tangible results. Thus, through
this program in 2026 which lasted two days the focus was specifically on
building the capacity of participants to understand how human activities and
climate change contribute to local challenges in the Lake Zone. Through
in-depth training and expert mentorship, these young people had the opportunity
to develop ideas that can strengthen the community's ability to withstand
disasters and stimulate positive behavioral change for sustainable living.
At least 50 participants including young people from universities, tech startups, local
communities, and non-governmental organizations came together in a unique
collaborative environment. These participants were not required to have prior
expertise; instead, they were encouraged to bring their curiosity, creativity,
and passion for change in their surrounding environment. They worked in
multidisciplinary teams to address real climate challenges that increasingly
affect the daily lives of Mwanza residents. Major emphasis was placed on
transforming life experiences and local knowledge into practical,
implementable, and beneficial solutions for communities living along the shores
of Lake Victoria. This situation marked a major shift, where young people are
now recognized as solution creators rather than mere recipients of
environmental aid.
Ms. Lucky
Michael is the Director of ECCT. I asked her, "What gap did you
discover in solving challenges caused by climate change?" She
responded: "Through Climathon, we realized there is still a large gap
between the real challenges facing communities and the involvement of young
people in creating sustainable solutions. Often, young people have great ideas,
but they lack the space, practical knowledge, mentorship, networks, and
resources to develop them. We also observed that many climate change challenges
such as floods, food system degradation, and declining fishing resources
require solutions rooted in the real context of the affected communities.
Climathon has become an important platform for connecting innovative youth,
experts, development stakeholders, and communities to design solutions that are
feasible and have a positive impact on society."
"Were
the goals you expected from this Climathon achieved?" "To a large extent, the
goals we anticipated through Climathon were achieved. We managed to bring
together innovative young people, environmental stakeholders, and the community
to discuss and design real solutions to climate change challenges. Through
Mwanza Climathon 2026, powered by Climate KIC, young people had the opportunity
to collaborate and develop ideas that yield positive results in key areas such
as sustainable fishing, flood resilience, and climate-resilient food systems.
Beyond that, Climathon has increased awareness of environmental innovation and
inspired young people to be part of change through practical actions within
their own communities," she said.
WHAT SPECIFIC CHALLENGES WERE
PRIORITIZED?
The
first challenge
prioritized was fishing livelihoods and safety, where extreme weather events on
the lake have been increasing, endangering the lives of fishers. Human
activities such as wetland destruction, shoreline encroachment, and
deforestation have intensified wave action and reduced natural buffers in
fishing areas. Participants received training on the drivers of climate change
and its impacts on the fisheries sector, which is the backbone of Mwanza's
economy. They developed ideas such as early warning systems for storms, safe
fish landing structures, and community emergency systems. These solutions aim
to reduce accidents, loss of income, and vulnerability among fishing
communities that depend on the lake for the majority of their livelihoods.
The
second challenge
involved informal settlements and urban drainage systems, where heavy rainfall
caused by climate change leads to frequent flooding. Poor waste management,
construction in watercourses, and loss of natural vegetation have significantly
worsened these impacts in Mwanza's neighborhoods. Participants learned about
flood coping techniques, health and sanitation risks, and then designed
community-based solutions. The ideas generated included improving community
drainage channels, modifying houses to withstand floods, and establishing
community disaster preparedness systems. This is particularly important for
low-lying areas where community awareness and local actions are essential for
building long-term resilience.
The
third challenge
focused on climate-resilient food systems for urban and peri-urban areas, where
drought and unpredictable rainfall reduce agricultural productivity.
Unsustainable farming practices and land degradation have further weakened food
security and caused food prices to rise in markets. Participants received
training on climate impacts on agriculture and best coping practices, then
designed innovative solutions. These included urban and rooftop farming, modern
irrigation systems, food storage innovations, and climate-smart agriculture.
Strengthening these local food systems will help reduce the risk of food
shortages and increase the community's ability to withstand climate
variability.
DURING THIS EVENT, YOUNG PEOPLE
WERE GUIDED THROUGH VARIOUS STAGES.
To guide
participants from the learning stage to solution development, Climathon
included carefully planned sessions. The first session involved presentations
where participants were introduced to the major climate risks affecting the
Mwanza region, including severe weather on the lake and flooding. After that,
an innovation and creativity workshop followed, where teams engaged in
deep-thinking exercises to explore innovative approaches that respond to
community needs. At this stage, participants began developing unique ideas
targeting the three main challenges presented, while receiving guidance from
experienced mentors. This process ensured that each idea was thoroughly refined
to have positive and lasting impacts on social and sectoral environments.
Five groups were created and the teams developed different innovative solutions together. The second winner’s project was “Weeds to Wealth” an initiative addresses the growing spread of water hyacinth in Lake Victoria, which affects fishing activities, fish survival, public health and the livelihoods of nearly 3 million people in Mwanza Region. The project transforms water hyacinth into eco-friendly products such as woven chairs and baskets. This solution helps reduce environmental pollution, restore aquatic ecosystems, improve fish availability, create employment opportunities, transfer practical skills and promote the growth of local green industries and sustainable businesses.
Third winner innovative idea was “Drain Safe” combining FloodLink and EcoBrooms to address flooding challenges in Mwanza neighborhoods. FloodLink uses WhatsApp to provide flood alerts, risk updates and community reporting of blocked drains, while EcoBroom transforms recycled plastic waste into drainage cleaning tools. Together, the solution promotes early warning, community action, waste recycling, and flood prevention. The other innovative solutions was a project that focuses on recycling organic waste from Buhongwa Market into Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) and compost. The initiative aims to reduce environmental pollution, improve food safety, minimize health risks, and promote sustainable waste management practices within the market and surrounding community.
Others came up with a “Smart Janja” project, which is an AI-powered climate-smart business management platform designed to help traders and small businesses manage stock efficiently and reduce food waste. The system records sales, tracks inventory, generates reports, and predicts product demand using historical data. By reducing overstocking and food spoilage, Smart Janja helps businesses minimize financial losses while also addressing environmental pollution caused by food waste and methane emissions.
And the the winners of Climathon Mwanza 2026 whare the Aqua Vision Tech Team.
Aqua Vision Tech is a youth led, climate-smart aquaculture project transforming fish farming in Tanzania through sustainable cage fish farming systems addressing rising fish demand, overfishing, climate change effects, and high fish production costs by promoting efficient and environmentally responsible aquaculture practices. Through its work, Aqua Vision Tech is improving food security, creating employment opportunities for youth and local communities, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and reducing pressure on natural fish resources such as Lake Victoria.
When asked about the global opportunity under Climate KIC: Mr Alan Malongo who is a lead team member of the aqua vision tech said that this will help Aqua Vision Tech grow and increase it’s scale in the community impact through mentorship, networking and potential investment opportunities. This would also expand their project in operations, adopt advanced climate smart technologies, increase fish production, and reach more communities across Tanzania. Aqua Vision Tech aims to become a leading model for sustainable aquaculture and community-driven climate innovation in Tanzania, improve access to affordable fish, more jobs and business opportunities.
The teams
moved into the prototype development stage and received expert mentorship in
the areas of fisheries, urban resilience, and sustainable agriculture. This was
a crucial opportunity to refine their solutions so that they would be
practically and socially feasible within the context of the Lake Zone. Each
stage of this process emphasized the importance of innovation rooted in local
reality rather than abstract theories. Additionally, they used
their own experiences to propose approaches such as strengthening fisheries
monitoring systems and establishing flood warning systems. This was clear
evidence that young people have the ability to turn challenges into development
opportunities when given the right tools and support.
The event
was supported by Climate KIC with assistance from Irish Aid,
bringing together this ecosystem for two intensive days from April 30 to May 1,
2026. The event was implemented in partnership with the Environmental
Conservation Community of Tanzania (ECCT), together with The Next
Hub through Innovate Ventures, which facilitated innovation enablement and
ecosystem collaboration throughout the process. The main strength of the Mwanza
Climathon 2026 was the diversity of expertise that guided the process.
Facilitation was led by Engineer Balbina Andrew, Executive Director of Nourish
Africa, in collaboration with Mr. Mukama Ndaro from the Fisheries Education and
Training Agency (FETA) Mwanza, and Mr. Daniel Kasongi, Hub
Manager at The Next Hub through Innovate Ventures. Their combined expertise
ensured that ideas remained innovative, technically sound, and capable of
bringing positive change to the community.
PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION AND THE
INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
Ms. Sara Mpanda, Program Coordinator at ECCT, facilitated structured participation and ensured effective coordination throughout the entire Climathon journey. Evaluation of the solutions involved a panel of judges from diverse backgrounds representing finance, academia, and civil society. These included Mr. Gabriel Mushi, Customer Relationship Officer at CRDB Bank (Rock City Branch, Mwanza) who provided financial and investment insights; Mr. Anthony Magoma from the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) Mwanza, contributing academic and sectoral expertise; and Ms. Lucky Michael, Executive Director of ECCT, representing environmental management leadership and civil society. This convergence of institutions created an unusual space where youth-led ideas were not only generated but also addressed in depth by practitioners from all sectors linking innovation, finance, academia, and environmental practice.
Climathon Mwanza 2026 was honored to host Mr. Daudi Joseph, Head of Environment Department at Mwanza City Council, as the Guest of Honor. With strong expertise in environmental planning and sustainable development, he provided critical insight from the public sector on shaping resilient and sustainable urban systems. His work continues to strengthen environmental governance and promote community-centered approaches to sustainability in Mwanza. In his remarks, Mr. Daudi Joseph emphasized the importance of innovation in addressing local environmental and climate challenges. He highlighted that the local government is committed and willing to support innovative ideas emerging from young people and community-based initiatives. He further shared various opportunities available through government structures and partnerships that innovators can leverage to scale their solutions and create real impact.
The Mwanza
Climathon 2026 event proved that solutions to climate challenges do not only
come from advanced technology, but rather from close collaboration across
different sectors. The presence of experts from fisheries, agriculture, and
urban development helped the youth teams understand the entire value chain of
their solutions. This two-day process transformed the way participants think
about their environment, giving them the confidence to see that change is
possible through collective effort. This was more than a competition; it was a
platform for capacity building and nurturing future leaders in the
environmental conservation and climate change response movement in Tanzania. At
the core of this process remained innovation that is solidly grounded and
responsive to community needs.
Although
the Mwanza Climathon 2026 lasted only 48 hours, its impact and meaning extend
far beyond the event itself within the Lake Zone. It represents a growing trend
of community-driven climate innovation in Tanzania, showing that young people
are key stakeholders in providing answers to tomorrow's challenges. This step
sends a powerful message that real climate solutions must begin at the
grassroots level, involving the people who live with those impacts every day.
Building resilience is now understood as a participatory process requiring
everyone's voice from lake fishers to university experts and civil society
organizations. This is the beginning of a long journey toward a safer, more
resilient environment for all.
THE WAY FORWARD AND LONG-TERM
RESILIENCE
As the
impacts of climate change continue to intensify on Lake Victoria, initiatives
like the Mwanza Climathon become increasingly important for building local
resilience. This edition of Climathon in Mwanza has shown that the foundations
for climate innovation already exist within the community, and what is needed
is to strengthen the systems that allow these ideas to grow. The challenge
ahead is to ensure that these emerging ideas receive the necessary support to
turn into implementable projects that benefit many people. In the city of
Mwanza, this process has already begun quietly but with growing speed and
urgency, signaling a new awakening to protect our natural resources with
greater courage. The youth of Mwanza are not waiting for solutions; they are
creating their own for their future.
The Mwanza
Climathon 2026 has set an important milestone in the history of climate action
in the Lake Zone and Tanzania as a whole, by enabling unique collaboration
between young people, various sectors, and the government. It has proven that
by igniting skills, creativity, and good management, we can successfully
address floods, food shortages, and fishing risks. The impacts of this event
will continue to be seen through projects developed by participants as they
receive ongoing guidance from committed partners. Mwanza now stands as an
exemplary model for local climate innovation, demonstrating that the power of
young people combined with expertise can bring meaningful change in the
country. This is an important step toward building a climate-resilient and
sustainably developing community, aligned with the Development Vision 2050.
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