🇿🇼ZimbabweSouthern Africa
African innovators urged to enter Wilderness Impact Challenge for US$100,000 prize
via NewsDay Zimbabwe5 min read
African innovators, including those from Zimbabwe, are encouraged to apply for the Wilderness Impact Challenge before the April 30 deadline. This competition offers US$100,000 to the most impactful and implementation-ready idea that transforms conservation into a viable economic driver. Launched in 2025, the global initiative seeks practical, scalable solutions that advance the "conservation economy" by linking environmental protection with sustainable livelihoods. Now in its second year, the challenge invites entrepreneurs, community groups, and changemakers to explore the intersection of tourism, conservation, and local enterprise. Vincent Shacks stated that conservation progresses faster when it provides real economic value to local communities. The 2026 edition emphasizes economic inclusion, supporting locally-driven models that address issues like poverty, unemployment, and limited market access. Entry is free, aiming to attract grassroots innovators and community-based organizations. Proposals do not need to be highly technical but must demonstrate clear, shared value for both conservation and livelihoods. Zimbabwe had a strong showing in the 2025 edition, with a top-three finalist from Victoria Falls and the Ele-Collection project, which converts plastic waste into building materials, gaining recognition. Beyond the prize money, finalists receive exposure, networks, and potential partnerships to scale their impact, addressing challenges such as human-wildlife conflict,
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The African Development Bank Group AfDB board has approved a US$25 million grant for Zimbabwe. This funding is intended to support rural communities within the country that have been severely impacted by climate change.
Grace Dudzai Musa, managing director of Discovery Coin, is transforming Zimbabwe's agricultural sector from her 13-hectare farm in Melfort, near Marondera. Her enterprise includes three hectares of greenhouses producing cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, alongside open fields for leafy vegetables like covo, spinach, tsunga, lettuce, and carrots. The business also features 12 rooms for button mushrooms and six for oyster mushrooms, with an additional 14 hectares under development for crops such as watermelon, butternut, and potatoes. Musa's passion for agriculture began during her time in retail, where she recognized the vital role farming plays in the food supply chain. She now supplies fresh produce to major supermarkets, including Pick n Pay, across Zimbabwe. Despite initial setbacks, Musa's resilience and strategic insight have led to her success. She emphasizes that farming is more than a business; it is a calling that creates livelihoods and empowers communities, challenging the perception of agriculture as a male-dominated field. In 2023, Discovery Coin expanded to include meat imports and serviette manufacturing, though farming remains its core focus. Musa plans to establish an industrial site for local meat processing and exports, and to scale up greenhouse production for international markets, aiming to inspire other women in agriculture.
James Wade Oliver Jr., founder of ZimWorX, has created over 1,800 jobs across Africa and beyond using an "insourcing" model. Oliver, who began his entrepreneurial journey at age 12, was drawn to Zimbabwe in 2015 after learning about its educated but underemployed youth. He launched ZimWorX in 2017, confirming the country's talent base during his first visit in 2018. Oliver aims to create 20,000 jobs by 2032 by expanding campuses in Harare, Lusaka, and Costa Rica, and investing in skills development, including AI training. He believes Zimbabwe has the potential to become Africa's outsourcing capital, provided there is a shift in global perception from "cheap labor" to premium talent, supported by infrastructure and technology investment. Oliver operates on a "Win–Win–Win" philosophy, ensuring every interaction benefits the client, his team, and the broader social mission. His business integrates faith, with 51% of profits donated to social causes, supporting education and community projects. Oliver's book emphasizes that global talent should be viewed as a growth strategy, not merely a cost-cutting measure, transforming both businesses and communities.
Must ReadThe African Development Bank AfDB has approved a US$25 million grant to Zimbabwe. This funding is specifically allocated to support communities vulnerable to climate change. The initiative aims to bolster resilience and adaptation efforts in regions most affected by climate impacts. Communities in Matabeleland and Masvingo are among those expected to benefit from this climate fund.