Bouknadel, 10 July 2026

Through its African Youth Climate Hub (AYCH) programme, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection organized Demo Day 2026 on 10 July at the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training in Bouknadel, under the theme “Beyond the Pitch: Youth and Sustainability on the Road to 2030.”

Since its inception, AYCH has established itself as a leading platform for identifying, incubating, and showcasing youth-led solutions to climate and environmental challenges across Africa. Through its incubation model, the programme supports young innovators in turning their ideas into impact-driven, market-ready projects, while offering them visibility, networking, and partnership-building opportunities. Previous editions demonstrated the value of a format combining strategic dialogue, innovation, storytelling, and project showcasing, with Demo Day serving as the culminating moment for youth-led ventures.

This new edition responded to a shared observation: across Africa, young people are increasingly developing practical solutions in sectors ranging from clean energy and the circular economy to water, agriculture, digital innovation, and community resilience. Yet these initiatives need stronger platforms to connect with partners, institutions, and development opportunities. Demo Day 2026 thus offered a space where project pitches were framed within a broader reflection on innovation, partnerships, and future pathways, including the road to 2030.

The overall objective of the gathering was to showcase youth-led solutions, foster strategic dialogue on sustainability, and affirm African youth as key actors on the road to 2030. More specifically, the event aimed to present the projects developed through the 4th edition of the incubation programme before partners, experts, and invited stakeholders; to open a dialogue on African youth as a priority for 2030, centered on sustainability, leadership, innovation, and partnership opportunities; and to position young people as solution builders, entrepreneurs, and contributors to the continent’s sustainable development agendas.

The ten projects incubated through the 4th edition of the AYCH programme were pitched before a jury of founding partners and invited experts. The projects were assessed on several criteria, including innovation, impact, feasibility, sustainability, scalability, and clarity of presentation.

By bringing together project holders, alumni, institutional and private-sector partners, an expert jury, civil society, and the media, this 2026 edition of Demo Day illustrated the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection’s commitment to positioning African youth as central actors in the environmental and social transitions ahead.