Deadline: 28-Jun-2026
The WeWork – Green and Decent Jobs for Youth programme supports youth-led green and circular economy businesses through incubation, coaching, technical assistance, and seed grant support. The 24-month initiative is implemented in collaboration with Enabel under the Global Gateway strategy and funded by the European Union and Belgium.
Eligible applicants are young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 operating green or circular economy businesses in the Kampala Metropolitan region, Busoga Sub-region, and West Nile Sub-region. Applicants must have a prototype, early traction, or proof of concept and be ready to participate in bootcamps, coaching, and financial compliance processes.
What is the WeWork – Green and Decent Jobs for Youth Programme?
The WeWork – Green and Decent Jobs for Youth programme is a business support initiative for young entrepreneurs working in the green and circular economy.
The programme helps youth-led businesses strengthen their business models, improve operations, access markets, create jobs, and grow sustainably.
It combines incubation, bootcamp-based training, coaching, technical assistance, and seed grant support.
Main Purpose of the Programme
The main purpose of the programme is to empower young entrepreneurs who are building businesses that support environmental sustainability and decent job creation.
It focuses on helping early-stage and emerging businesses move from prototype or proof of concept toward stronger market readiness and revenue growth.
The programme also aims to support inclusive green growth by helping young people create practical solutions in sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, recycling, clean cooking, eco-construction, water and sanitation, and eco-tourism.
Focus Areas and Priorities
The programme focuses on youth entrepreneurship in the green and circular economy.
Key focus areas include:
- Green economy development
- Circular economy business models
- Youth entrepreneurship
- Incubation support
- Financing and seed grants
- Technical assistance
- Business model development
- Job creation
- Market access
- Coaching and mentoring
- Bootcamp-based training
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable agriculture
- Agro-processing
- Recycling and upcycling
- Sustainable packaging
- Clean cooking solutions
- Eco-construction
- Sustainable fashion
- Water and sanitation solutions
- Eco-tourism
Key Concepts Explained
Green Economy
The green economy focuses on businesses and activities that reduce environmental harm while supporting economic growth and social wellbeing.
Green economy businesses may work in clean energy, sustainable farming, waste reduction, water solutions, low-carbon products, and environmentally responsible services.
Circular Economy
The circular economy focuses on reducing waste and keeping materials in use for longer.
Circular businesses may reuse, repair, recycle, upcycle, redesign, or recover materials to reduce pressure on natural resources.
Youth-Led Business
A youth-led business is a business founded or managed by young people.
Under this programme, eligible entrepreneurs must be between 18 and 35 years old.
Incubation Support
Incubation support helps early-stage businesses improve their ideas, operations, financial systems, and growth plans.
It may include mentorship, business training, market access support, technical advice, and investor readiness guidance.
Seed Grant Support
Seed grants are early-stage financial support provided to help businesses develop or expand.
In this programme, seed grants may support prototype development, operational improvements, business expansion, and revenue-generating activities.
Programme Duration
The programme is a 24-month initiative.
It includes structured training, bootcamp participation, coaching, technical support, and potential seed grant support for outstanding founders.
Programme Partners and Funding
The programme is implemented in collaboration with Enabel.
It is supported under the Global Gateway strategy.
The initiative is funded by the European Union and Belgium.
These partnerships aim to strengthen green entrepreneurship, youth employment, and sustainable business development.
What Support is Provided?
Selected participants receive practical business development support.
Support may include:
- One-week residential bootcamp
- Expert-led training
- Business model refinement
- Financial skills development
- Operational skills development
- Coaching and mentoring
- Technical assistance
- Market access support
- Revenue growth support
- Job creation guidance
- Pre-incubation or incubation support
- Seed grant opportunities for outstanding founders
Bootcamp Support
Selected participants take part in a one-week residential bootcamp.
The bootcamp is led by expert trainers and focuses on strengthening the business foundation of each participant.
During the bootcamp, participants work on:
- Business model improvement
- Financial management
- Operational planning
- Market positioning
- Growth strategy
- Pitch development
- Social and environmental impact planning
Coaching Phase
After the bootcamp, participants enter a coaching phase lasting approximately 4.5 months.
This phase focuses on helping businesses accelerate growth and become more market-ready.
The coaching phase supports:
- Revenue growth
- Market access
- Customer acquisition
- Business strategy
- Operational improvements
- Job creation potential
- Investment readiness
- Sustainable growth planning
Seed Grant Support
Outstanding founders may receive seed grant support facilitated by HCL Foundation.
These grants are intended to help businesses move to the next stage of growth.
Seed grants may support:
- Business expansion
- Prototype development
- Product improvement
- Operational upgrades
- Revenue-generating activities
- Market testing
- Scaling of green and circular economy solutions
Eligible Business Categories
The programme supports youth-led businesses working in green and circular economy sectors.
Eligible business categories may include:
- Renewable energy solutions
- Sustainable agriculture
- Agro-processing
- Recycling
- Upcycling
- Sustainable packaging
- Clean cooking technologies
- Eco-construction
- Sustainable fashion
- Water and sanitation solutions
- Eco-tourism enterprises
- Other AI, technology, or innovation-enabled green solutions where relevant
Who is Eligible?
Eligibility is open to young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35.
Applicants must operate green or circular economy businesses in the eligible regions.
Eligible locations include:
- Kampala Metropolitan region
- Busoga Sub-region
- West Nile Sub-region
Applicants must have at least one of the following:
- Prototype
- Early traction
- Proof of concept
Applicants must also be willing to participate fully in the programme requirements.
Participation Requirements
Selected participants must be ready to engage actively in the full programme.
Participants should be willing to take part in:
- Residential bootcamps
- Coaching sessions
- Mentorship activities
- Business development support
- Technical assistance sessions
- Financial compliance processes
- Monitoring and reporting where required
Applicants should show commitment to growing their business and creating measurable social, environmental, and economic impact.
How the Programme Works
The programme supports youth-led green businesses through a structured growth pathway.
First, selected entrepreneurs participate in a residential bootcamp to strengthen their business models and core skills.
Next, they receive coaching and technical support for approximately 4.5 months to improve revenue, market access, operations, and job creation potential.
Outstanding founders may then access seed grant support to develop, expand, or scale their business solutions.
The overall goal is to help businesses become more viable, sustainable, and impactful.
How to Apply
Applicants should first confirm that they meet the age, location, and business eligibility requirements.
They should then prepare a clear business profile explaining the green or circular economy problem being addressed, the solution offered, the target market, the current stage of the business, and the expected impact.
Applicants should show evidence of a prototype, early traction, or proof of concept.
They should also explain how the programme’s bootcamp, coaching, incubation support, and seed grant opportunity can help strengthen the business.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that you are between 18 and 35 years old.
- Confirm that your business operates in an eligible region.
- Check that your business fits the green or circular economy focus.
- Prepare a clear description of your product, service, or solution.
- Show evidence of a prototype, proof of concept, or early traction.
- Explain the social, environmental, and economic problem your business addresses.
- Describe your target customers or beneficiaries.
- Explain how your business can create jobs or improve livelihoods.
- Identify the support you need, such as coaching, technical assistance, market access, or seed funding.
- Confirm your availability for bootcamps, coaching, and financial compliance processes.
- Submit the application through the official programme process.
Why It Matters
Young entrepreneurs can play a major role in building greener and more inclusive economies.
Green and circular economy businesses can reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, create jobs, support clean energy access, and strengthen sustainable livelihoods.
This programme matters because it connects youth-led businesses with the training, mentorship, financing, and incubation support needed to grow.
By supporting practical green businesses, the initiative contributes to decent job creation, climate action, environmental protection, and inclusive economic development.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting a business idea that is not clearly linked to the green or circular economy.
Applications should not be vague about the problem, customer, product, or business model.
Applicants should avoid claiming impact without explaining how the business creates environmental, social, or economic value.
Businesses without a prototype, proof of concept, or early traction may not be ready for this programme.
Applicants should not ignore participation requirements such as bootcamps, coaching, and financial compliance.
They should also avoid submitting unrealistic growth plans or unclear funding needs.
Tips for Strong Applications
A strong application should clearly explain the business problem and solution.
Applicants should show how their business contributes to green growth, circular economy practices, or environmental sustainability.
The proposal should demonstrate practical progress, such as a working prototype, early sales, customer interest, pilot activity, or proof of concept.
Applicants should explain how the business can create decent jobs and generate revenue.
They should also describe how seed grant support could help the business expand, improve operations, or reach more customers.
A strong application should be specific, realistic, impact-focused, and easy to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the WeWork – Green and Decent Jobs for Youth programme?
It is a 24-month programme that supports youth-led green and circular economy businesses through incubation, bootcamp training, coaching, technical assistance, and seed grant opportunities.
2. Who can apply?
Youth aged 18 to 35 operating green or circular economy businesses in the Kampala Metropolitan region, Busoga Sub-region, and West Nile Sub-region can apply.
3. What sectors does the programme support?
The programme supports sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, agro-processing, recycling, upcycling, sustainable packaging, clean cooking, eco-construction, sustainable fashion, water and sanitation, and eco-tourism.
4. What support do selected participants receive?
Selected participants receive a one-week residential bootcamp, expert mentoring, coaching for approximately 4.5 months, incubation support, technical assistance, market access support, and possible seed grant support.
5. Are seed grants available?
Yes. Outstanding founders may receive seed grants to support business expansion, prototype development, operational improvements, and revenue-generating activities.
6. What stage should the business be at?
Applicants should have a prototype, early traction, or proof of concept.
7. What are participants expected to do?
Participants must be willing to attend bootcamps, participate in coaching sessions, engage with incubation support, and comply with financial and programme requirements.
Conclusion
The WeWork – Green and Decent Jobs for Youth programme supports young entrepreneurs building green and circular economy businesses in selected regions.
Through bootcamp training, coaching, technical assistance, incubation, and seed grant support, the programme helps youth-led enterprises strengthen their business models, access markets, grow revenues, and create decent jobs.
Applicants should present a clear, practical, and impact-driven green business with evidence of early progress and a strong commitment to sustainable growth.
For more information, visit StartHub.