A Delegation of UoN Early Career Researchers at the New York Climate Week 2025

The University of Nairobi proudly participated in the New York Climate Week 2025 (NYCW25), represented by postgraduate students and researchers , Mr. David Githinji Wanjui, a PhD student in Development Studies in the Department of Economics and Development Studies, and Senior Administrator at the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor- Research, Innovation and Enterprise (DVC-RIE). 

The event convened global innovators, researchers, policymakers and, youth leaders to accelerate climate action through science, technology and sustainable innovation.

Mr. Wanjui was part of the Next Generation Digital Action (NGDA) cohort — a multidisciplinary team of student innovators from Kenya, Denmark, the United States, South Africa, and Colombia.

The program, hosted by the City University of New York (CUNY) in partnership with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Skylab) and supported by the Ramboll Foundation , challenged young innovators to design digital and nature-based solutions for climate resilience.

The Kenyan team presented RefshaFlow solution: A Digital Sponge Platform, an innovative prototype integrating IoT sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and blockchain to enhance urban flood resilience and smart water retention.

“This experience reaffirmed the power of collaboration across borders. Our work in Nairobi can contribute meaningfully to solving global challenges such as urban flooding,”
— David G. Wanjui, University of Nairobi

The New York visit provided a week of Learning and Innovation whose Key highlights included:

• Kickoff at CUNY Graduate Center: Orientation sessions introduced participants to New York City’s history of stormwater resilience and the broader context of Climate Week.
• Urban Learning Labs: Site visits to Ramboll’s New York Office and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where Danish startup Scalgo https://scalgo.com/  demonstrated cutting-edge digital mapping tools for stormwater management and finally;
• Student Innovation Pitches: Teams from Copenhagen, New York, Bogotá, Johannesburg, and Nairobi showcased their prototypes to an international jury of experts and mentors.

The challenge posed by Ramboll — “How might we leverage digital technologies to better integrate nature-based solutions into existing infrastructure?” — encouraged cross-disciplinary innovation and collaboration.

The University of Nairobi’s delegation comprised talented student innovators from diverse disciplines:

Together, the team represented by Wanjui demonstrated Kenya’s growing capacity for innovation-driven climate solutions, highlighting how academic research can inspire technological and entrepreneurial outcomes.

Beyond the formal sessions, Climate Week provided invaluable opportunities for networking and cross-cultural learning.

Mr. Wanjui shared experiences with Asger Riis Rasmussen (DTU Denmark) and engaged with fellow innovators Benny and Vee (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) and Maria José and Mariana Romero (Universidad Nacional de Colombia) together with students from Newyork and Denmark.

“These interactions created a foundation for long-term partnerships in research, innovation, and climate resilience,”
— David G. Wanjui

The engagement in New York provided key lessons and opportunities that include;

• Youth as Innovators: Platforms like NGDA empower young scientists and engineers to co-create practical, scalable solutions for global challenges.
• Universities as Catalysts: Institutions such as UoN, CUNY and DTU play a pivotal role in bridging research, policy and practice.
• Business Opportunities in Climate Innovation: Research can drive enterprise and economic growth, positioning innovation as a key enabler of sustainable development.
• A Call for Partnership: Ramboll’s absence in Africa presents an opportunity to establish an African Liaison Office in Kenya, positioning Nairobi as a regional hub for sustainable innovation.

“Attending the new York UNGA- Climate Week was more than a conference — it was a transformative journey,” said Wanjui. “It strengthened my resolve to integrate science, innovation and enterprise for a sustainable future.”

The University of Nairobi continues to support initiatives that position its researchers and students at the forefront of global sustainable development and climate action.