Africa has taken a major step toward amplifying its scientific leadership with the launch of the African Planet Prize, a new award celebrating exceptional early-career researchers working on solutions that protect the Earth’s planetary boundaries. Announced on 27 November at the Science Forum South Africa (SFSA) in Pretoria, the inaugural prize spotlights researchers whose work strengthens climate resilience, biodiversity protection, land stewardship and sustainable development across the continent.
Created by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) in partnership with the Frontiers Research Foundation of Switzerland, the prize recognizes peer-reviewed scientific breakthroughs that directly contribute to maintaining the Earth’s nine environmental limits — including climate stability, ocean health, freshwater use, land-system change and chemical pollution. The awards come with US$5,000 per winner, along with automatic entry into the prestigious international Frontiers Planet Prize, which annually grants three global winners US$1 million each for pioneering sustainability research. According to AAS President Professor Lise Korsten, the new initiative marks only the beginning of a continental transformation: “Our ambition is to see African scientists on the global podium — and to build the support systems that make that possible.”
This year’s African Planet Prize honors three exceptional researchers from Namibia, Ethiopia and Tanzania, chosen from a competitive pool of 86 eligible applicants across all planetary-boundary fields. The finalists — Dr Jessica Nosizwe Thorn, Dr Addisu Fekadu Andeta, and Dr Debora Charles Kajeguka — stand at the frontlines of climate resilience, food security innovation and climate-driven disease research.
Dr Jessica Nosizwe Thorn: Advancing Climate, Land and Ocean Resilience
Dr Thorn, affiliated with the University of Namibia and Imperial College London, focuses on the complex interactions between environmental systems and societal decision-making. Her research ranges from climate adaptation in African mountain regions to ocean acidification, blue-economy ecosystems and land-use modeling. One of her standout studies, published in Nature Climate Change, explored how perceptions of climate risk shape adaptive behavior — and how these insights can accelerate more transformative pathways in vulnerable environments. Thorn, a fellow of the ARISE program, plans to reinvest her award into transdisciplinary science-to-policy projects, potentially through urban restoration living labs. She describes the prize as a moment to pause, reflect, and recognize the communities behind the science: “It affirms the value of approaching problems from a complex-systems perspective.”
Dr Addisu Fekadu Andeta: Transforming Africa’s Next Climate-Resilient Superfood
Known for pioneering work on enset, a drought-resilient plant sometimes called the “false banana,” Dr Andeta has spent over a decade modernizing the processing of one of Ethiopia’s most culturally and nutritionally important crops. Enset feeds more than 25 million people and can survive prolonged drought, yet its traditional processing methods are labor intensive and prone to high losses. His innovations include a starter culture that cuts fermentation from two months to seven days, improved fermentation vessels, women-focused processing tools, and Kocho flour, a gluten-free, nutrient-dense food product. His research is expanding into Kenya and Uganda, aiming to boost food security and create sustainable jobs. “Enset can become Africa’s next superfood,” he said — and this recognition gives his team renewed momentum.
Dr Debora Charles Kajeguka: Mapping Climate-Driven Disease Spread
Dr Kajeguka, a microbiologist at KCMC University in Tanzania, studies how climate change is altering the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya and Rift Valley fever. As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns shift, mosquito habitats are moving into higher altitudes, threatening communities previously considered safe. Her work also covers cross-species viral transmission, gendered climate vulnerabilities and public health awareness — areas critical for building early-warning systems. The award, she said, reflects the power of collaboration with teams in the UK, Canada and Denmark and motivates her to expand this vital work even further.
A Continental Turning Point for Sustainability Science
The European-based Frontiers Planet Prize team describes the African edition as a necessary evolution to increase participation from African institutions, which remain underrepresented despite facing disproportionate climate impacts. Previous African winners of the global competition — such as the University of Cape Town’s Professor Mark New and Dr Petra Holden — have already used their prize to catalyze multimillion-dollar research investments, demonstrating the transformative potential of such awards.
AAS leaders say the strong interest in the African Planet Prize underscores a growing research momentum across the continent. AAS Interim Executive Director Catherine Ngila called the initiative a strategic turning point, one that supports emerging scientists and strengthens continental research ecosystems long-term.
Conclusion
The launch of the African Planet Prize marks more than an awards ceremony — it signals a new chapter in African-led sustainability research. By elevating early-career scientists, encouraging systems thinking and expanding access to global platforms, the initiative positions Africa not just as a participant, but as a driver of solutions for planetary stability. As this inaugural cohort demonstrates, the continent’s scientific future is innovative, resilient and deeply committed to safeguarding the planet for generations to come.
