$120,000 Available for African Innovators Tackling Plastic Waste

A new funding call is now open for scientists, startups, and innovators across Africa working on plastic waste reduction solutions. The OceanHub Africa Plastic Waste Innovation Initiative, supported by OceanHub Africa and The Coca-Cola Foundation, is offering a total of $120,000 in grants to support practical approaches that address plastic pollution across its lifecycle, from reduction and reuse to recycling and alternative materials.  

Benefits

The program provides staged financial support to help ventures develop, test, and scale their solutions through three funding phases:

• Grant 1 – Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)
• Up to USD 20,000 per venture
• Supports essential equipment, infrastructure, and setup costs
• Delivered alongside venture studio and technical support

 • Grant 2 – Operations and Pilot Phase

• Up to USD 20,000
• Awarded to one or two ventures demonstrating strong progress
• Covers operational expenses and pilot implementation

 • Grant 3 – Commercialization Phase

• USD 80,000 repayable grant
• Awarded to one selected venture
• Intended to support market entry and commercial scaling of a validated solution

Who can Apply? 

• Scientists and researchers
• Startups and early-stage companies
• Environmental innovators and entrepreneurs
• Impact-driven teams focused on plastic waste solutions