Call for African Innovators: Turn Your Bold Ideas into Real Impact

OceanHub Africa, in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation, is offering $120,000 in funding to support innovative solutions that reduce plastic waste. The initiative targets scientists, startups, and innovators developing scalable, community-driven approaches to plastic pollution across Africa and beyond.

The OceanHub Africa Plastic Waste Innovation Initiative, supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation, is a funding and support program designed to accelerate solutions that reduce plastic pollution. The initiative seeks bold, practical ideas that can create measurable environmental and social impact.

Program Overview

This challenge focuses on identifying and supporting high-impact innovations that address plastic waste across its lifecycle—from reduction and reuse to collection, recycling, and alternative materials.

Selected innovators receive:

• Direct financial support

• Access to an innovation ecosystem

• Mentorship and visibility opportunities

The goal is to transform promising ideas into scalable solutions that benefit communities, ecosystems, and the circular economy.

Key Objectives of the Initiative

The program is built around three core objectives:

• Reduce plastic pollution through innovative technologies, systems, or business models

• Support sustainable waste management and circular economy approaches

• Empower innovators to scale solutions with real-world application

By funding early-stage and growth-stage solutions, the initiative helps close gaps in plastic waste reduction efforts across Africa.

Who Is Eligible?

The challenge is open to individuals and organizations committed to tackling plastic waste.

Eligible applicants include:

• Scientists and researchers

• Startups and early-stage companies

• Environmental innovators and entrepreneurs

• Impact-driven teams working on plastic reduction solutions

Applicants should demonstrate a clear, actionable approach to reducing plastic waste and a strong potential for impact.

Why This Initiative Matters

Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental challenges globally, particularly in rapidly growing economies.

This initiative matters because it:

• Addresses plastic waste at a systems level

• Supports locally relevant, scalable solutions

• Strengthens Africa’s environmental innovation ecosystem

• Encourages collaboration between innovators, communities, and partners

Reducing plastic waste improves public health, protects ecosystems, and supports long-term sustainability.

What Types of Solutions Are Supported?

Innovations may focus on:

• Plastic waste reduction and prevention

• Reuse and refill systems

• Recycling and upcycling technologies

• Alternative materials and packaging solutions

• Community-based waste collection and management models

Solutions should be practical, impactful, and capable of scaling beyond pilot stages.

How the Program Works

1. Applicants submit their innovative solution focused on plastic waste reduction

2. Proposals are reviewed based on impact, feasibility, and scalability

3. Selected innovators receive funding from the $120,000 pool

4. Awardees gain access to networks, mentorship, and exposure

5. Solutions are supported toward real-world implementation and growth

Tips for a Strong Application

• Clearly define the plastic waste problem you are solving

• Demonstrate measurable environmental and community impact

• Show how your solution can scale or be replicated

• Highlight innovation in technology, design, or business model

• Align your approach with circular economy principles

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total funding available?
A total of $120,000 is available to support selected innovations.

Who is organizing the initiative?
OceanHub Africa, in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation.

Is the initiative limited to Africa?
The focus is on Africa, but solutions with broader applicability are encouraged.

Do applicants need to be startups?
No. Scientists, innovators, and startups are all eligible.

Are non-technical solutions allowed?
Yes. Business models, community systems, and process innovations are welcome.

What additional support is provided beyond funding?
Mentorship, networking, collaboration opportunities, and increased visibility.

Does the initiative focus only on recycling?
No. Solutions across the plastic lifecycle—including reduction and alternatives—are encouraged.

Conclusion

The OceanHub Africa Plastic Waste Innovation Initiative is a powerful opportunity for innovators to turn bold ideas into real environmental impact. By combining funding, mentorship, and collaboration, the program supports scalable solutions that reduce plastic pollution and help build a more sustainable future for Africa and the planet.