Regional program#1

Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs

The Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs is a 3-year project implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and funded by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). The program will offer incubation and accelerator programs, including virtual courses, a mentorship program, in-person events, and networking opportunities in 6 OECS member states (Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines), targeted at green businesses whose business models include solutions aimed at contributing their country’s climate and sustainable development goals.

The incubator program will target existing innovative early-stage medium, small, and micro-enterprises (MSMEs), including women-owned firms, with demonstrated growth potential that are still in pursuit of a scalable and repeatable business model, and citizens with relevant experience and entrepreneurial ambitions.  Successful entrepreneurs in the incubator program will have the opportunity to participate in a business competition to secure grant seed funding of $10,000. The accelerator program will target high-potential startups in growth stage and offer repayable grants in amounts up to $50,000 as well as a structured program for providing links with investors.  The project also includes a component aimed at development of a sustainable regional ecosystem for supporting green entrepreneurs that will continue beyond the life of the project.

The program aims to deliver over USD $1.2 million in grant funding to green MSMEs in the region, facilitating the creation of 3,000 green jobs, and impacting the lives of over 12,000 OECS citizens.

* Click here to visit the website of the Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs Entrepreneurship Initiative.

*To learn more about the Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs program, please join our mailing list here.

Regional Program #2:

Pacific Greenpreneurs 

The regional Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN) is a 3-year project implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and funded by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). The Network will offer annual “Pacific Greenpreneurs” incubation and accelerator programs targeted at green and sustainable businesses whose business models include solutions aimed at contributing to their country’s climate and sustainable development goals in 6 Pacific Island countries – Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu via localized virtual and physical workshops and builds on GGGI’s recent international and regional ‘Greenpreneurs’ incubator work.

Successful entrepreneurs from the incubator program will be offered the opportunity to apply for grant seed funds of up to USD 5,000, while qualifying accelerator participants will be provided with zero-interest growth financing of up to USD 50,000. The program will prioritize women entrepreneurs and green jobs for women and youth and aims to facilitate the creation of 3,130 green jobs, impacting the lives of over 12,000 Pacific Islanders.

* Call for Applications Now Open – Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator Program 2022

Application Guidelines: https://bit.ly/PacGreenIncGuide2022

* Read more about the Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator Kiribati Graduation Ceremony. 

* Please visit Pacific Greenpreneurs website to find more information.

Regional Program #3:

Rwanda Greenpreneurs Network

The Rwanda Greenpreneurs Network platform will  be officially launched in 2022. Currently the GGGI Rwanda Country Program and Youth Connekt Regional Hub & Fund based in Kigali, Rwanda have signed an MOU in 2021 to facilitate and support the establishment of Rwanda Greenpreneurs Network. The GGGI Rwanda Country Program has commenced with a situational analysis and conducted an assessment of the existing ecosystem in Rwanda by conducting Focus Groups with greenpreneurs, interviews and stakeholder engagements with existing programs in Rwanda that support greenpreneurs such as incubation hubs, accelerator programs, financial institutions ,  investors, mentors, coaches etc.

GGGI has engaged with Youth Connekt Regional Hub & Fund ; Ministry of Youth & Culture ; Rwanda National Youth Council ; District Youth Representatives ; Norrsken ; Impact Hub : Inkomoko ; 250start-up ; RICEM ; RIEDC ; Ministry of Environment ; REMA ; FONERWA (Rwanda Green Fund) ;ENABEL and many more to discuss possible areas of collaboration.

Project Context:
1. Rwanda like many countries faces effects of climate change which has led to natural disasters and economic disruption. However, Rwanda has recognized the importance of innovation as a solution to the negative impact of climate change by committing to policy actions and implementation towards a green and climate resilient economic growth model. Rwanda currently boasts of a burgeoning entrepreneurship ecosystem that includes amongst others, incubation hubs, Innovation hubs, Accelerators, Co-Working space, and research centers all striving to take ideas to mature businesses. Yet, these laudable initiatives are yet to tackle the challenges faced by many startup businesses especially by the youth and women.

2. Rwanda’s economic growth has been robust with an average GDP growth of 8% pre-pandemic. However, this growth has not translated to enough quality and sustainable employment for the growing youth of the country. This is a complex problem that matters to the growth of the economy because in a country of roughly 13 million population (NISR 2021), the youth within the ages of 14-35 makes up close to 40% of this population. Moreover, the government’s National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), which is a 7-year medium term strategy (2018-2024) included job creation as one of the key components of the economic pillar of the strategy. The target is to create 1.5 million productive and descent jobs by 2024 through off farm employment and expanding the possibilities within manufacturing, value addition of minerals, construction, tourism, information technology in a knowledge-based economy. Achieving this target would ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s growth as well as to consolidate the trust that the citizens have on their government. Yet, recent numbers from the quarterly Labor Force Survey of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR – Q3 2020) shows that even though there is an increase of 6.4% in off farm employment corresponding to the net job created of 120,978 between 2018 and 2019, there has been job loss in sectors like construction, tourism, human health and social work, information, and communication etc. The implication is that the year-on-year employment target would be missed unless drastic and innovative approaches are utilized to deconstruct the challenge. This challenge when solved will reduce the poverty level amongst youth and spur sustainable economic growth that is anchored on technological innovations.

3. The project will partner with Youth Connekt Africa Regional Hub & Fund , Ministry of Youth & Culture, Rwanda National Youth Council, and other evolving incubation hubs within the startup ecosystem in Rwanda to establish the Rwanda Greenpreneurs Network. A network that will develop and coordinate a framework that will connect the different entities that are working to support the young green entrepreneurs from concept stage to a sustainable business that contributes to meet the set targets in national development plan including the SDGs and NDCs. The Network will provide opportunities to strengthen and leverage youth collaborative and innovative abilities, utilizing the platform to link innovators and investors to identify potential partnership. Moreover, the network will create awareness within the existing startup innovation ecosystem through networking engagements, outreaches, and aligning policies to practical needs that benefits the support structure for entrepreneurs.

4. The impact of not doing this project would result into a lost opportunity for the Rwandan youth to create synergies among stakeholders which could lead to a minimal impact in their solutions to challenges of climate change. This project also provides the opportunity for the youth to contribute to the aim of the government of Rwanda which is to raise the profile of young people’s innovative solutions as a vehicle of change in Africa. The government of Rwanda is keen to support ideas and innovative solutions from young people aged between 15 – 35 years old (African Charter) by working with existing entities that can support to scale up green business solutions such as Youth Connekt Africa Regional Hub & Fund. As a result, GGGI seeks to establish a platform and network that could serve as a one stop center for youth development that includes different entities that offer unique business solutions as stated in the project outcome. The project’s goal is to scale up the partnership within the region and support greenpreneurs through the Regional Green Innovation Fund.

Global program

Global Greenpreneurs

Greenpreneurs is a free 12-week virtual incubator supporting young people to develop social enterprise solutions that address sustainability and climate change issues in their community. Developed in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Youth Climate Lab (YCL), Greenpreneurs 2021 has selected 15 teams from around the world to participate in the third iteration of the program this summer, with weekly learning modules that include webinars and tasks, as well as weekly coaching from mentors and subject matter experts. At the end of the 12-week program, teams will compete for a chance to receive prize money to further expand their initiative.

*  Click  here to learn more about the Greenpreneurs.

*  Click here to find 2021 winning teams’ information.