The Sustainability & ESG Africa Conference & Expo (SEACon) has officially opened its search for Africa’s brightest student minds to participate in the prestigious Student Innovation Competition.
This year’s challenge marks a significant shift in focus, urging participants to move beyond traditional sustainability projects toward bold, practical, and scalable solutions in underexpanded spaces.
While previous years saw a heavy focus on energy and waste reuse, organizers are now “raising the bar” to address more complex systemic issues.
The competition is hunting for fresh thinking in critical sectors such as human rights, ethical value chains, responsible AI, digital inclusion, and biodiversity.
The core mission is to address the deeper question of how economies function and who benefits from them.
Innovators are invited to design solutions that deliver meaningful, inclusive impact across the continent and beyond.
Funding and benefits
Winners will receive recognition through the Student Innovation Awards, with prizes and sponsorship provided by a range of industry partners.
High-performing entrants will have their work reviewed by a distinguished panel of global sustainability experts and industry leaders from organizations such as Naspers, DP World, and Anglo American.
Beyond the awards, the competition offers a vital platform for students to connect with a professional Community of Practice.
Participants are encouraged to share their journey using the hashtag #SEACon2026, allowing them to build buzz and network with fellow attendees and potential industry influencers.
Application requirements and eligibility
The call is open to students and innovators who can demonstrate clarity, originality, and feasibility in their proposed designs.
Every entry must provide a solution that has the potential to deliver real ESG and inclusive outcomes while addressing real-world challenges.
Applicants are required to submit an abstract through the official portal, focusing on high-impact areas where innovation is most urgently needed.
The judges are specifically looking for transformative ideas that push beyond incremental improvements and traditional approaches.
Deadline
Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit their abstracts as soon as possible via the competition’s online submission link.
While the specific closing date for the current cycle is not explicitly listed in the available materials, interested parties should stay informed by subscribing to the SEACon newsletter or contacting hannelie@esgafricaconference.com for the latest updates.
To apply, visit SEACon call page. Visit our global opportunity page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
