Deadline: 06-Sep-20
Young Water Solutions in collaboration with its implementing partners Concree and Cewas and its financial partners Enabel and the SDC are organizing the first edition of the Young Water Fellowship program 2020 in Senegal.
Young Water Fellowship is a program initiated by Young Water Solutions, an international NGO that supports young social entrepreneurs in the implementation of effective and sustainable solutions to water, sanitation and hygiene issues.
For the first edition of the young water fellowship program in Senegal, 15 young leaders will have the opportunity to acquire the means to lead initiatives in their communities and to create social enterprises that tackle the various water issues, such as :
- Access to drinking water
- Access to sanitation and hygiene services
- Limiting the rate of COVID-19 infections
- Water quality and reduction of pollution.
What you will learn from Young Water Fellowship Senegal
- Training
- After your interview selection, you will participate in two weeks of training. The training will be provided by Concree, a Senegalese structure specializing in supporting entrepreneurs existing since 2014, and cewas, a Swiss incubator for water start-ups which since 2011 has been training entrepreneurs in the water sector and sanitation. The 14-day training will be held from November 02 to 15, 2020 (note that the dates are approximate and subject to change).
- Mentoring
- Once you have received seed funding and begin the implementation phase, they will connect you with senior fellows and experts who will guide you and provide advice throughout the pilot. You also benefit from coaching support and follow-up over one year with Concree.
- Networking
- You will be connected to relevant organizations and be informed of other funding opportunities. The program ends with Pitching Night, an event where Fellows have the opportunity to present their projects to decision-makers, Senegalese stakeholders and investors. This will be an opportunity for you to meet industry experts and financiers who can help you develop your project after the program.
- Funding
- You will be invited to submit funding requests for your pilot projects. If you meet the conditions (for example, complete the training, return to your community and submit a proposal for the same project you were selected for), you will be offered seed funding between € 3,000 and € 5,000. The amount is decided based on your specific needs and the funds available.
Selection Process
- Review documents relating to the application process
- Terms of reference (to find out if you are eligible)
- Application guidelines (for how to apply)
- Word version of the application form (to prepare your answers)
- If pre-selected you will be invited for an interview
- Entrepreneurs will be invited to participate in the training
Eligibility Criteria
- You are 18 to 30 years old at the time of the application. No exceptions are made.
- You are the founder or co-founder of an initiative that contributes to the solution of a well-defined water and/or sanitation problem. The initiative should be in its planning or initial stages with the potential to be turned into a social business (i.e. have a long-term sustainability component or business model).
- You are a citizen and resident of Senegal.
- You are available to attend the two weeks of full-time training from November 2nd to 15th 2020.
- You intend to stay in Senegal for at least 1.5 years after the training and spend at least 15 hours per week to work on your social business.
- You have at least an intermediate knowledge of French; you are able to understand and express opinions in this language (the workshop will be held in French).
For more information, visit https://youngwatersolutions.org/apply/