Green Business Competition aims to stimulate and encourage innovation for green businesses at the local level and explores the role of philanthropy in engaging local communities to generate green business ideas that utilize local resources and revitalize disappearing traditional production chains and community-based markets.
By supporting innovative, local sustainable economic development initiatives, Green Business Competition aims to substantively contribute to building a peaceful, competitive, and prosperous Western Balkans region.
The program is providing financial support and targeted assistance to selected businesses that are offering innovative solutions and contribute to the achievement of the following seven (7) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region of Western Balkans, namely:
· SDG 2: Zero Hunger. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
· SDG 7: Clean Energy. Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
· SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
· SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
· SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
· SDG 13: Climate Action. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
· SDG 15: Life on Land. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
The Green Business Competition works on the principles of environmental responsibility, ethical conduct, diversity, inclusion, and empowerment, not dependency for the purpose of promoting the well-being of local communities, by boosting entrepreneurship and enabling people to understand and take control of their full potential.
The Green Business Competition in Albania is financially supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Credins Bank.
THE MAIN PURPOSE
The aim of the Green Business Competition is to support business initiatives that promote social inclusion, through integration and employment, and local economic development through environmentally friendly ideas.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Any proposal submitted under this call, should come from businesses that are already operating in the market, in the early stages of development, but existing for no more than 3 years. The fund will support business proposals for a period from six (6) to nine (9) months, with a maximum of funding of no more than 1,000,000 ALL.
It is encouraged to have funds from alternative sources!
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
WHO CAN APPLY?
The competition is open to small business ventures with a maximum annual profit of 2,000,000 ALL in the latest year of operation (2024).
ELIGIBLE APPLICATION CRITERIA FOR BUSINESSES IN PRE – SEED STAGE:
· The business is still in the early stages of development, and it is legally registered in the National Business Center (QKB) no longer than three (3) years from the date of the announcement of this call for applications;
· The business should have an ‘active’ operation status at the moment of the application;
· The business relies primarily upon local resources, including by employing local people and utilizing traditional skills;
· The business has a vision or action plan for environmental sustainability;
· The business has a plan for economic viability and/or incremental growth;
· The business has an innovative approach and valuable social impact;
· The business has assessed the local market and is aware of its competitors and comparative advantages;
· The business is innovative and unique compared to other businesses and initiatives in the community;
· The business is having a focus or contributes to one of the listed SDGs: 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 15.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
The applicant should submit the following:
1. Application Form;
2. Financial Form;
“The “Application Form”, “Financial Form” and the “Business Model Canvas” must be submitted in accordance with the templates made available from the Green Business Competition 2025. No other similar format or template will be accepted as application documents.
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