MTN Cameroon and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Cameroon are pleased to announce the successful culmination of the Cameroon PachiPanda Challenge, marked by an impactful Pitch Day held on 15 April 2025 in Douala.

Launched on 19 February 2025, this initiative served as a pivotal platform for showcasing technology-driven innovations designed to address critical environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices across all ten regions of Cameroon.

The challenge, which attracted submissions from 186 aspiring innovators, invited young individuals and youth-led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to present solutions focused on key areas: waste management, energy and water resilience, and community development. Following an intensive period of knowledge development and pitch preparation, facilitated by expert mentorship, eleven finalist teams presented their pioneering projects.

The winners of the Cameroon PachiPanda Challenge are:

• 1st Place: Moses Afopezi and Justin Etogo, awarded XAF 3 million for their project: AgricFresh, a tech-driven solution that addresses post-harvest loss by professionalising farm management and connecting farmers directly to buyers through a digital platform. Utilising solar-powered cold storage, the initiative extends crop shelf life, reduces waste, and promotes sustainable agriculture and climate action.
• 2nd Place: Sindy Njonguo, awarded XAF 2 million for her project: SwarmDec, a sensor device that provides early warnings of bee colony overpopulation, preventing swarming and its negative impacts on bee farmers, crop yields, and biodiversity.

• 3rd Place: Jean Blaise Seka and Philemon Tebo, awarded XAF 1.5 million for their project: WiseCool, an innovative project that uses solar-powered cold storage units with IoT sensors to extend the shelf life of essential drugs, ensuring continuous healthcare access for off-grid communities, and is complemented by WiseApp for remote consultations and efficient healthcare delivery.

This initiative perfectly aligns with MTN’s commitment to creating shared value through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.

“I am immensely proud of the dedication shown by these young Cameroonian innovators in developing solutions that create a positive and sustainable impact in Cameroon. I am confident that these projects will inspire change at the continental level”, stated Wanda Matandela, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Cameroon.

Beside this initiative, MTN Cameroon is actively driving MTN Group’s “Project Zero” initiative, demonstrating its unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship and its ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. This commitment is exemplified by previous collaborations, such as the partnership with WWF in the “Tree for Life” initiative where over 250,000 trees were planted in the North region.

The three winning teams will now advance to the Grand Pitch Day of the Pan-African Innovation Challenge, scheduled for 22nd April 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa, where they will compete against leading innovators from Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia.