We’re thrilled to announce the 10 winners of the third round of the Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge! Over the past two years, in collaboration with Shockwave Foundation and Munich Re Foundation, RAIN has supported East African innovators in transforming early-stage, nature positive agricultural ideas that address climate resilience challenges into viable, investment-ready solutions.
Following a rigorous review process, 19 seed-level initiatives were shortlisted for the third round of the RAIN Innovation Challenge. These innovators received mentorship and participated in a Leadership Academy in April 2025, where they refined their ideas and strengthened their leadership skills.
Now, after months of development and support, we are proud to announce the 10 winning initiatives. These projects, spanning for-profit and not-for-profit models, will receive a cash prize, tailored mentorship, financial linkages, and communications support to scale their work. Each innovation is advancing resilience and championing nature-positive agriculture in meaningful, locally rooted ways.
Ignitia
Meet the winners
Not-for-profit winners:
Carbon Farming for Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability and Profitability (CAFAESUP)
Organisation: Food Security for Peace and Nutrition Africa (FSPN Africa)
Country: Tanzania
CAFAESUP equips small-scale farmers, particularly young people and women, with training in regenerative agriculture and digital tools to measure and monitor their farms’ carbon emissions and sequestration. By adopting climate-smart practices, farmers improve soil health, increase yields, and earn income through carbon credits. The project uses AI and machine learning to make carbon farming accessible and profitable for smallholders. It also links farmers to premium markets for sustainable produce. By combining food security, income generation, and environmental sustainability, CAFAESUP supports farmers in building resilience while reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint. As a former RAIN 1 winner, their impactful work and strong alignment with program goals have earned them continued funding under RAIN 3 to further scale their initiatives.
A Basic Income for Nature and Climate in Laikipia County
Lead organisation: Equal Right
Country: Kenya
The Climate Commons Fund is Africa’s first cash-for-conservation pilot, linking unconditional cash payments, called “climate dividends”, to ecosystem restoration in Laikipia, Kenya. Co-governed by local communities, the fund supports regenerative agriculture, rotational grazing and other nature-positive practices. Dividends are adjusted annually based on measurable ecological improvements, incentivising environmental stewardship without strict conditions. Alongside training and legal support, the project empowers rural communities, strengthens land rights and builds a locally governed, self-sustaining conservation economy. It offers a replicable model for equitable, community-led climate finance and resilience-building across Africa.
Leveraging Owl Predation for Climate-Adapted Rodent Control: Enhancing Ecosystem Resilience in Rodent Pest Management (LOPE-CARE)
Lead organisation: Sokoine University of Agriculture
Country: Tanzania
LOPE-CARE introduces a sustainable, nature-based solution to rodent control by promoting owls as natural predators, reducing reliance on harmful rodenticides. The project will install artificial nest boxes and raise awareness to shift cultural perceptions of owls, encouraging their protection near farms. By restoring habitats and educating communities, it enhances biodiversity, reduces crop losses, and increases climate resilience. Piloted in Mbeya, the project collaborates with research institutes, local government, and NGOs. It offers a scalable, climate-smart model for pest management that integrates ecological restoration into agriculture and supports long-term food system sustainability.
For-profit winners:
Bee Guardians of the Crest
Lead organisation: BeeGulf Limited
Country: Rwanda
Through inclusive modern beekeeping, the Bee Guardians of the Crest project supports women, young people, refugees, and people with disabilities in Rwanda’s Congo Nile Crest. By integrating beekeeping with agroforestry, they work to restore biodiversity in the buffer zones of the Nyungwe and Gishwati-Mukura Biosphere Reserve, enhance food security, and build climate-resilient livelihoods. With 7,500 nectar-rich indigenous trees planted and strong local partnerships, it promotes eco-tourism, reduces deforestation, and creates green entrepreneurship across ecological, social, and economic systems.
Vermicomposting for Sustainable Production of Organic Fertiliser and Pesticides, supporting climate-impacted communities in Rwanda
Lead organisation: VERMIFARM Ltd
Country: Rwanda
Rwanda produces over 1.5 million tonnes of organic waste annually, yet most goes unrecycled. VERMIFARM is transforming this challenge into an opportunity by converting 1,800 tonnes of waste into 1,200 tonnes of nutrient-rich vermicompost and 36,000 litres of biopesticide annually. The project integrates Internet of Things (IoT)-powered worm farms, mobile training tools, and agro-demonstration gardens to enhance soil fertility, reduce CO₂ emissions, and support over 5,000 smallholder farmers. A winner of the inaugural round of the RAIN Challenge, VERMIFARM returns in RAIN 3 as we continue supporting their efforts to strengthen food systems, create dignified green jobs, and scale a nature-positive model for climate-smart agriculture in East Africa.
Organic fertiliser production
Lead organisation: Green Ethiopia
Country: Ethiopia
Green Ethiopia is transforming urban organic waste into affordable, microbe-enriched fertiliser. Co-designed with local smallholder farmers, the initiative works to restore soil health, boost yields, and reduce water use. By centring farmer voices, especially those of women, Green Ethiopia fosters inclusive innovation while creating 150 green jobs in composting and waste collection. With tailored formulas and a scalable franchise model, Green Ethiopia is cultivating a community-led, climate-resilient movement from the ground up.
Smart Productive Forests
Lead organisation: Green Intelligence Kenya
Country: Kenya
Through smart agroforestry and technology, Green Intelligence supports smallholder farmers in Kenya restore degraded land and improve livelihoods. Farmers use the GI mobile app to track tree planting, access expert advice, and earn financial rewards by participating in carbon credit markets. The app also connects farmers to premium markets by ensuring traceability of their agroforestry harvests. This transparent, community-driven approach boosts incomes, improves biodiversity, and helps fight climate change. Already active in Kenya and Nepal, Green Intelligence is scaling up to reach more farmers, especially in remote areas, and build a fair, climate-smart future from the ground up.
Sustainable Native Species Aquaculture for Food Security and Biodiversity Protection in Lake Tanganyika
Lead organisation: Tanganyika Blue
Country: Tanzania
Tanganyika Blue is restoring Lake Tanganyika’s fish supply by developing sustainable native tilapia aquaculture. This initiative builds a breeding facility and expands a DNA-verified broodstock of native fish from five lake districts. By selectively breeding native tilapia, Tanganyika Blue aims to increase growth rates and reduce feed needs, making native aquaculture profitable and reducing reliance on invasive Nile tilapia. This protects the lake’s unique biodiversity while supporting local food security. Additionally, this initiative provides training for community members and government officials, creates jobs, and aligns with national conservation plans, building a resilient, nature-positive fish farming industry.
Democratising Weather and Climate Intelligence for Smallholder Farmers in Kenya & Uganda
Lead organisation: Ignitia
Country: Uganda
Ignitia provides hyperlocal, AI-powered weather forecasts via SMS to smallholder tea farmers in Kenya and Uganda. By delivering daily and seasonal forecasts, planting advice, and early warnings, the service helps farmers make timely, informed decisions, thus reducing crop losses, optimising water, fertiliser, and pesticide use, and implementing soil and water conservation practices. This nature-positive approach enhances climate resilience, protects biodiversity, and supports sustainable tea production.