Climathon Nairobi: Hacking Solutions for Climate Action

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Partner(s): EIT Climate-KIC, County Government of Nairobi, Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), RicoLab, and UN-Habitat.

Project Overview

Climathon Nairobi is part of a global movement designed to translate climate awareness into tangible local action. As the lead organizer, Quercus Group facilitated a year-round program centered on a high-intensity solutions hackathon. The project brings together policymakers, entrepreneurs, students, and tech experts to solve specific climate challenges defined by the city. By fostering a “bottom-up” innovation culture, Climathon Nairobi supports the birth of climate-positive businesses and addresses local policy gaps to build a more resilient and sustainable urban environment.

Key Areas of Work

  • City Challenge Definition: Collaborating with the County Government to identify and frame urgent climate issues (e.g., waste, energy, water).
  • Innovation Facilitation: Orchestrating the hackathon process to move from problem identification to prototype development.
  • Incubation & Post-Programme Support: Providing a pathway for winning teams to receive continued mentorship and data access.
  • Global Knowledge Exchange: Connecting Nairobi’s local innovators to a global network of over 100 cities.

Activities Implemented

  • Solution Hackathon: Organizing a 24-hour event where multidisciplinary teams developed six distinct solutions for Nairobi’s climate challenges.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Aligning diverse actors including UN-Habitat and the private sector to provide expert judging and mentorship.
  • Pre-Programme Workshops: Conducting participant registration and training sessions to prepare teams for the technical and business aspects of their projects.
  • Media & Communication Outreach: Managing a high-reach campaign (leveraging the global #Climathon movement) to raise awareness about local climate action.

Impact / Outcomes

  • Tangible Project Development: The creation of six innovative solutions tailored specifically to the Nairobi urban context.
  • Ecosystem Building: Strengthening the collaboration between the County Government and the local innovation community.
  • Civic Engagement: Successfully mobilizing over 100 participants to take active roles in city governance and environmental sustainability.
  • Policy Influence: Providing city officials with a “sandbox” of tested ideas that can inform future urban planning and environmental policy.

Approach or Methodology Used

The project followed a three-step “Challenge-Solution-Realization” framework. This methodology moves beyond traditional brainstorming by first Defining the city’s climate challenges through governmental consultation, then Developing prototypes in a time-bound hackathon, and finally Providing a post-event support structure. This ensures that the ideas generated are not just theoretical but have the technical and institutional backing needed for real-world implementation.

Overall Objective

Climathon Nairobi seeks to transform climate challenges into actionable, scalable solutions by fostering collaboration, innovation, and long-term support mechanisms that contribute to a greener, more resilient Nairobi.