Call for applications - Green Entrepreneurship Awards 2023

6 Mar 2023

The Green Entrepreneurship Awards 2023 is open for entry. This year's awards are a collaboration between Seed and the Circular Economy Catalyst, presenting two award categories. The Climate Adaptation Awards by Seed focus on Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia and are funded by the Government of Flanders. The Circular Economy Awards by Circular Economy Catalyst for India and Kenya are supported by the Ikea Foundation.

Image source: Pop Nukoonrat – 123RF.com

The awards will support eco-inclusive and circular enterprises to scale their business growth as they increase the adaptive capacity of local communities to the changing climate. Examples of eligible businesses in Botswana, Malawi and Zambia include those focusing on areas such as biodiversity protection, responsible water management, building community resilience, sustainable land management, and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Examples of eligible businesses in India and Kenya include those bringing sustainable solutions to the market that address unsustainable food systems, e-waste, water pollution, plastic waste or fast fashion challenges. The awardees will receive support to refine their business models and scale their business to spur the transition to circular and inclusive economies.

“We are delighted to announce the launch of the Climate Adaptation Awards and invite applications from innovative and promising locally led eco-inclusive enterprises,” says Arab Hoballah, Seed executive director. “The awards will further support and enable climate-positive entrepreneurs in developing successful business models and scaling their implementation.”

“The Circular Economy Awards recognise the achievements of circular economy enterprises that deliver environmental, social and economic impacts through their business models. The Awards aim to showcase the important contribution of small and medium enterprises to the transition to a circular and inclusive economy,” explains Camilla Shearman, Circular Economy Catalyst project lead.

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Awards and prizes

Applications are now open until 23 March 2023. Winners will be announced at the beginning of July at the occasion of the UN High Level Political Forum. For Climate Adaptation Awards, one winner in each country will receive a one-year Seed Accelerator support and a matching grant of up to €15,000 to make necessary investments to scale. Five runners-up in each country will receive six-month SEED Catalyser support and a matching grant of €1,500 to support necessary investments to grow.

For Circular Economy Awards, two winners in each country will receive a one-year Accelerator support and a matching grant of up to €15,000 to make necessary investments to scale. Ten runners-up in each country will receive six-month Catalyser business development support and a matching grant of up to €5,000 to make necessary investments to grow.

The Green Entrepreneurship Awards are just one of the initiatives launched by Adelphi's Green Entrepreneurship Team in 2023. Seed and the Circular Economy Catalyst, together with other projects, will continue their work of empowering entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs to create climate-positive business models and to scale profitable circular economy business models that promote eco-inclusive jobs, green economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

For more information on the Awards, visit https://seed.uno/programmes/enterprise-support/awards.
To apply, register at https://platform.seed.uno/.