Across Africa, young people are already defining the green transition, designing solutions, mastering new technologies, and carving pathways into emerging sectors. The barrier is not a lack of ambition but an uneven access to the skills, mentorship, and capital required to turn an idea into a tangible enterprise.
The International Energy and Sustainability Summit (IESS) was created to bridge this gap. Too many young leaders with the potential to drive Africa’s energy future remain locked out of the very systems they are meant to lead. If this gap persists, the green transition will proceed without the generation it was intended to empower.
IESS is the catalyst for a different future. We bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and youth innovators to move beyond dialogue and drive measurable impact in climate action and inclusive growth.
The heart of our impact is the Climate Hackathon, a signature segment that transforms the summit into a living laboratory. Over three days of intense design sprints, participants collaborate with tech leaders and legal experts to develop functional, tech-enabled prototypes for the continent’s most pressing challenges.
This is where the future is built from smart irrigation systems for precision farming to ocean-bound plastic-recovery drones and blockchain-based carbon tracking. We move beyond the prototype; IESS provides a high-stakes platform where innovators meet funders. Winning teams receive cash prizes, dedicated incubation opportunities from Jacob’s Ladder Africa, and the professional exposure necessary to scale a hackathon project into a viable green business.
As we look toward the summit in Nairobi and 3-day virtual hackathon in January 2026, our invitation is clear: if you are a funder looking for the next breakthrough, a policymaker seeking actionable frameworks, or a young innovator ready to change the world, join us at www.iess.co.ke .
Together, we are proving that the energy transition isn’t just a necessity; it’s the world’s greatest opportunity for justice, growth, and a sustainable tomorrow.
