Deadline: 16-Oct-22
Do you have an innovative solution in response to these compounding environmental, economic, social, and health crises that can put them on a just and inclusive green recovery? Are you a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) that wants to build resilience, but lacks knowledge and funding? Apply for the open call and join the BOOST x Kosovo acceleration programme to fast forward your innovative solutions to the next level and amplify your impact!
UNDP Kosovo, in partnership with the Government of Japan, has launched the Kosovo Green Challenge to support green recovery in the private sector by fostering an enabling environment, with a people-centred approach.
The global turmoil that everyone have faced with has disrupted value chains and business operations. The economic crisis, Ukraine war, and energy crisis have led to high levels of insecurity and poverty. This all comes at a time when extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change have intensified.
UNDP wants to build the capacities of up to 50 SMEs with high potential to transition towards a green recovery by focusing on sustainable business models, risk management and disaster resilience. At the end of the programme, 15 SMEs will be awarded with grants of around 10.000 EUR (20% co-financing is requested from the SMEs).
What they’re looking for?
UNDP wants to support innovative green solutions, by focusing particularly on innovations that promote greener business practices and boost:
- Sustainability.
- Efficiency.
- Circularity.
The Programme
- MODULE 1: Impact Measurement & Management
- Module 1 focuses on equipping the SMEs with a better understanding of the concept and principles of impact and how impact interlinks with sustainability and scalability. The SMEs will learn how to develop SDG-aligned impact visions and theories of change, with Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART) indicators for proper impact monitoring and management.
- MODULE 2: Entrepreneurship Business Acceleration
- Module 2 focuses on developing the SMEs’ business, organizational, and management skills and capabilities. Participants get access to a step-by-step roadmap and approaches to building enduring business models to further develop and scale their projects and solutions. Topics covered in this module include Design thinking, Understanding your Target Group and Value Proposition, Prototyping, Building and Testing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Business Model Innovation, Financial Resilience, Innovative Finance, Design and Branding Strategies: (Agile) Project Management, Storytelling, Preparing and Presenting a Pitch Deck.
- MODULE 3: Green Transformation
- Module 3 introduces the green economy concept, environmental challenges and circular economy. During the sessions, you will explore ways to promote an inclusive green economy and integrate innovation and green transition into your business modules (enhance energy management in the commercial and industrial domains, main risks and their mitigation, financing possibilities, market trends, etc.).
- MODULE 4 (Optional): Tech and Digital Transformation
- Module 4 consists of a self-paced online training course focused on the principles for digital development and how they can be applied to drive social impact. The course introduces nine digital principles, contextualizes them in a case study, and showcases tools and resources that can be applied to all stages of a project life cycle.
- Tokyo Talks
- Throughout the programme, you will access a series of inspirational talks with successful entrepreneurs, philanthropists, global leaders, and experts from Japan. The objective is to shed light on specific topics relevant for the participating SMEs, inspire and share learnings. The topics and speakers will be announced during the programme to ensure they are relevant for the cohort.
- Mentorship and Peer-to-Peer Learning
- To ensure the best outcome of the learning journey, you will be matched with mentors with whom you will have routine meetings to discuss and evaluate your organization’s progress. These focal points and mentors will also match you with relevant individuals, organizations and investors in their respective networks as well as facilitate peer-to-peer learning by connecting SMEs working in similar fields and/or using similar technologies or business models.
Eligibility criteria
- Type: You are a local SME with a minimum of 1 year of business operations.
- Location registration: You are registered and planning to implement your project in Kosovo
- Language: English, Albanian, or/and Serbian.
Selection Criteria
- Innovation: Innovations that use cutting-edge technologies or innovative digital tools, or introduce new ideas, approaches, products, or services to a target group or a market.
- Viability and scalability: Your innovative solution is feasible – can be developed, tested, and/or implemented within one month upon graduation from the BOOST x Kosovo acceleration programme. Innovations that have the potential to be implemented and scaled within or even beyond their respective geographical area of operations.
- Potential for impact: SMEs that work to understand the systems in which they operate, and continuously re-assess and adapt their organizations and businesses to the context and markets. Your innovation solution has a high potential for impact which you can demonstrate via a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Management: SMEs must demonstrate that they have an adequate team in place, with clear roles and responsibilities, and the capacity to implement their innovations in one month.
For more information, visit https://boostimpact.org/challenges/the-kosovo-green-challenge/