MTN Africa PachiPanda Challenge 2025

The MTN Africa PachiPanda Challenge is an annual youth eco-innovation challenge run by MTN Group across multiple African markets. The 2025 edition was guided by the theme "Nourishing Tomorrow: Innovations for Food, Energy, and Water Security" and recognised young African eco-entrepreneurs designing solutions to local environmental challenges. National winners include OneGrid Energies (Nigeria - upcycling waste plastic and lithium batteries into solar lanterns) and CarbonSmart Solutions Africa (South Africa - biochar carbon credits for smallholder farmers). The Africa-wide PachiPanda Challenge Finals took place at MTN Group Headquarters in Johannesburg on 10 February 2026, followed by an immersive learning experience at Wits Business School.

Cash prizes, capacity building, immersive learning experience at Wits Business School (history, academia, culture engagements at Wits Planetarium, Origins Centre, Wits Business School), MTN ecosystem support, brand visibility across MTN African markets.

Young African eco-entrepreneurs (typically under 35) building solutions for food, energy, and water security challenges in MTN markets. National-level competitions feed into Africa-wide finals.