Teams or individual entrepreneurs with a green business idea or leading an early-stage green enterprise have until August 26, 2021 to apply to the Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs Incubator Programme.
Launched by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and supported by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the free training programme is designed to support green entrepreneurs to build robust and sustainable business models.
Participants will gain the skills, tools and confidence to successfully implement their models.
“Investing in green makes general, macro-economic sense but we also recognize that the majority of new jobs in developing and emerging economies are created by micro, small and medium enterprises. Such private sector small start-up enterprises are the engine of innovation and will be at the heart of a green transition, according to Director General of GGGI Frank Rijsberman.
The programme, which runs from October 2021 to January 2022, is open to applicants from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica; Grenada; St. Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Participants receive 12 weeks of virtual training, networking and the opportunity to participate in a business plan pitch competition to win grant seed funding of $10,000 (US).
Dr Didacus Jules, Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States stated:
“This Green Entrepreneurship Initiative is timely because it aligns with the vision and goals of the OECS and will serve as important tool in confronting some of the existential threats facing our region. Importantly, the project aligns with three of the OECS strategic priorities: accelerating regional integration; reinventing the economy while valuing the environment; and protecting the vulnerable and empowering youth. A project like this signals the dawn of a new era that takes us closer to the economic reinvention and resilience.
Each Greenpreneur, based on needs and preferences, will be assigned a mentor who will act as a ‘sounding board’ to support them through the process of building out their business models. A call for mentors has been launched for dynamic and experienced business persons in the private sector, as well as knowledgeable persons within the public sector who are willing to share their time and experiences as mentors.
Applications and further information are available from the OECS.
The programme is part of the wider Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative, a three-year project supported by the QFFD.
