PHONE NUMBER :
+27 81 781 3798
Student Innovation Competition
ESG Innovation Challenge 2026
The Sustainability & ESG Africa Conference & Expo Student Innovation Competition celebrates the next generation of African changemakers who are developing bold, practical solutions to the continent’s sustainability challenges.
The 2026 ESG Innovation Challenge brought together young innovators with fresh perspectives on sustainability, responsible business, inclusive development and the role of innovation in creating lasting impact. Through their ideas and initiatives, participating students demonstrated how creativity, technology and entrepreneurial thinking can help address real-world challenges and unlock new opportunities for Africa.
As part of the Sustainability & ESG Africa Conference & Expo, the competition provides a platform for emerging talent to showcase their work, connect with industry leaders and contribute to the conversations shaping Africa’s sustainable future.
Meet our 2026 Winners
This year’s competition recognised outstanding young innovators whose initiatives reflect the power of fresh thinking and practical solutions.
First Prize Winner: Martha Lukas — Namibia
Innovation: E-Waste to E-Guard
Martha Lukas from Namibia took first prize in the 2026 ESG Innovation Challenge with E-Waste to E-Guard. Her initiative was recognised for its innovative approach to addressing a sustainability challenge and demonstrated the potential of young African talent to develop solutions with meaningful impact.
Prize: R50,000
Runner-Up: Ariel Boro — Burkina Faso
Innovation: Trace ID
Ariel Boro from Burkina Faso was named runner-up for Trace ID, an initiative recognised as part of this year’s competition. The project contributed to the diversity of ideas presented by young innovators working towards a more sustainable future.
Prize: R25,000
Health Innovation Prize: Mercilina Arayo — Uganda
Innovation: NutriTrack Kaberamaido
Mercilina Arayo from Uganda received the Health Innovation Prize, judged by Dis-Chem, for NutriTrack Kaberamaido. This special award recognised innovation within the health and sustainability space, highlighting the important relationship between community wellbeing, inclusive development and sustainable impact.
Prize: R15,000
Our winners represented the ambition, creativity and determination of young African innovators. Although some winners were unable to attend the conference in person, their achievements were celebrated as part of the competition.
Empowering the Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders
The Student Innovation Competition is about more than awarding prizes. It is about creating opportunities for young people to contribute to Africa’s sustainability journey, develop their ideas and gain recognition for their potential to make a difference.
By connecting student innovators with the wider sustainability and ESG community, the competition helps bridge the gap between emerging ideas and the organisations, industries and partnerships that can support their development.
The 2026 challenge explored themes including:
Procurement and ethical value chains
Human rights and inclusive impact
Artificial intelligence for sustainability and inclusive impact
Nature, biodiversity and inclusive economies
These themes reflect the interconnected challenges facing African businesses and communities, while encouraging students to think critically about solutions that are practical, inclusive and economically viable.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
The 2026 ESG Innovation Challenge was made possible through the support of our sponsors, whose commitment to emerging talent helps create opportunities for the next generation of innovators.
Thank you to Naspers and DP World for supporting the Student Innovation Competition and investing in the ideas and potential of young African changemakers.
We also extend our appreciation to Dis-Chem for supporting the Health Innovation Prize and recognising the importance of innovation that contributes to health and community wellbeing.
Your support helps ensure that young innovators have a platform to share their ideas, gain visibility and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Looking Ahead
The future of sustainability depends on the ideas, courage and ingenuity of the next generation.
The Sustainability & ESG Africa Conference & Expo remains committed to creating space for emerging talent, encouraging innovation and connecting young changemakers with the broader sustainability community.
The next generation is not simply preparing for Africa’s sustainable future. They are already helping to shape it.
Follow the Sustainability & ESG Africa Conference & Expo for announcements about the next Student Innovation Competition and future opportunities to participate.