KMA doubles support for young climate innovators under Bloomberg Philanthropies programme
In the first round, KMA was awarded $50,000, which supported 14 youth groups and engaged 2,400 young people in climate action initiatives...For Round 2, over 90 cities across five continents will each receive $100,000 to fund youth-led climate initiatives. With the increased funding, KMA is expanding its scope to support 30 youth groups, doubling the number from Round 1.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), in collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies, has launched the second round of the Youth Climate Action Fund to empower young people with resources for championing sustainable projects and climate action strategies.
This initiative aims to engage youth aged 15 to 24 in addressing climate challenges, particularly waste management, within the Kumasi metropolis.
Poor waste management in Kumasi, especially in public spaces, has significantly affected the city’s environmental beauty and contributed to climate change. The push for waste-to-energy and wealth generation has become a critical part of sustainable solutions to these challenges.
KMA’s Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Francis Dwira Darko, emphasized that waste management has been a long-standing issue that drains the assembly both financially and environmentally.
“Waste management was costing us a lot—fueling vehicles, operational costs—it weighed heavily on our budget,” he said.
The Youth Climate Action Fund was first announced at Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Innovation Studio during the COP28 UAE Local Climate Action Summit in December 2023. It is designed to provide technical and financial support to young people, enabling them to lead climate-focused projects.
Following the successful completion of Round 1, KMA has advanced to Round 2 of the program. In the first round, KMA was awarded $50,000, which supported 14 youth groups and engaged 2,400 young people in climate action initiatives. Young participants received training on best environmental practices, including waste processing, green initiatives, and recycling.
For Round 2, over 90 cities across five continents will each receive $100,000 to fund youth-led climate initiatives. With the increased funding, KMA is expanding its scope to support 30 youth groups, doubling the number from Round 1.
“Thanks to this project, we have prioritized recycling as part of our waste management efforts. The youth have been instrumental in this initiative, finding innovative ways to handle waste sustainably. We are expanding the scope of the Youth Climate Action Fund project this time. Previously, we had 14 groups. Now, we expect to support 30 groups. With more participants, the impact will be even greater,” Mr. Darko stated.
The KMA is inviting young people and their supporting organizations to submit project proposals aligned with the city’s climate goals. These proposals should present innovative plans for engaging the youth in climate-related activities that demonstrate measurable community impact.
Selected youth groups will receive microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to fund their projects. Advisory committees will review the proposals and select the most promising initiatives for funding and implementation.
“The proposals should be tailored to fit Kumasi’s environmental situation and promote sustainable development. Funds will be disbursed to selected youth groups, and a project implementation committee will monitor compliance and fund utilization,” the Coordinating Director added.
Reporting By Baaba Belinda Baidoo, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi
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