Digital Opportunity Trust Kenya (DOT Kenya), with support from Cisco, has launched the 2026 CISCO Climate Champions Program aimed at empowering young innovators and climate leaders across Kenya. The initiative seeks to equip youth with climate knowledge, digital skills, leadership training, and community engagement experience to help address environmental challenges through locally driven solutions.
Applications for the program officially opened in May 2026, with the deadline set for 26 May 2026. According to the program announcement published by DOT Kenya and partner opportunity platforms, selected participants will undergo a four-week hybrid training program beginning in June 2026.
The program is specifically designed for passionate young women and men based in Nairobi and surrounding areas who are interested in sustainability, digital innovation, and climate advocacy.
In the official Terms of Reference released by Digital Opportunity Trust Kenya, the organization described the vision behind the initiative:
“The DOT Climate program is building a movement of youth-led climate action grounded in the belief that young people are powerful changemakers.”
DOT Kenya explained that the project will recruit, train, deploy, and support local youth leaders who will serve as Climate Champions within their communities.
DOT empowers youth to catalyze behavior change, drive community-led solutions, and scale impactful climate action across hundreds of communities,” the organization stated in the program overview.
The CISCO-supported program comes at a time when climate change continues to affect communities across East Africa through droughts, floods, food insecurity, and environmental degradation. By investing in youth leadership and grassroots climate innovation, DOT Kenya hopes to strengthen local resilience while creating career development opportunities for young people.
According to the program description, Climate Champions will complete a four-week hybrid training program consisting of three weeks of virtual learning sessions and one week of in-person training beginning in June 2026.
Selected participants will receive training in climate education, participatory action research, leadership development, digital advocacy, and community mobilization. The program also focuses on practical implementation of climate solutions within communities.
DOT Kenya noted that Climate Champions will be equipped with the organization’s Climate Curriculum and Participatory Action Research (PAR) Toolkit to support local climate action projects.
“These Champions will be equipped with DOT’s Climate Curriculum and Participatory Action Research (PAR) Toolkit, enabling them to engage communities in co-designing and implementing small-scale, locally driven climate solutions,” the organization explained.
The program is funded through Cisco’s investment in youth-led climate innovation initiatives in Kenya and Jordan.
Speaking about the broader initiative, DOT Kenya stated:
"With the support of Cisco’s investment, DOT is scaling this impactful program and building a coalition of like-minded partners committed to advancing climate action through youth leadership."
The selected Climate Champions will work directly with communities to conduct environmental surveys, mobilize local residents, form Participatory Action Research groups, and co-design climate solutions tailored to local environmental challenges.
According to the official programme outline, participants will also engage with global climate leaders and strengthen their digital advocacy skills using social media and online platforms.
The initiative additionally offers monthly stipends, certificates of completion, access to a global climate network, and membership in the DOT Alumni Network after successful completion of the program.
DOT Kenya emphasized that the program is strictly open to new applicants and that individuals who previously participated in earlier Cisco-supported climate programs are not eligible.