The Green Innovation Challenge Opened For Ghanaian SMEs
Jun. 27, 2021
The Green Innovation Challenge has been opened for SMEs in Ghana, specifically in the Ashanti or Western regions.
The Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) project Innovation Challenge is a yearly competition aimed at supporting SMEs and businesses that have outstanding, innovative green ideas.
The Challenge forms part of GrEEn’s objective of supporting entrepreneurs and green SMEs to increase their operations. The challenge also aims to promote the green and circular economy of the country. The green challenge will furthermore promote green innovation, increase the creation of green jobs and improve access to markets by highlighting green SMEs’ operations and sustainability.
As such, the SMEs must:
- Have a solution that is economically viable either in the form of a social or for-profit business.
- Have a solution that has a positive impact on the climate, environment, and community.
- Be located in the Ashanti or Western Regions or have operations in the regions (for instance as a source of input or with an operational office). SMEs must have been operating in the Ashanti or Western regions for at least a year.
- Have a solution that focuses on the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, and/or Agriculture sectors.
- Have a solution that has been developed and ready to go to market (at least a working prototype or demo) or already on the market with existing customers.
- Be a lead entrepreneur between 18-35 years. Women entrepreneurs can be older than 35 but no older than 40 years.
The green innovation challenge also encourages women to apply as priority will be given to businesses led by women.
For its 2021 edition, a total of up to EUR 25,000 per SME will be awarded in the form of matching grants to 8 selected SMEs.
Interested SMEs are to apply before July 18, 2021
End date: Jul 18, 2021
tag: SMEs, Entrepreneurship, Ex-Funds, Startup, green skills, Innovation,