Youth Ecopreneur Awards: Celebrating International Youth Day 2021

(Geneva, Switzerland) On the occasion of International Youth Day 2021, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is launching its first edition of the annual Youth Ecopreneur Awards – a celebration of young entrepreneurs working on innovative solutions for a better, greener planet. 

Among partners supporting the initiative are Ambitious Africa, the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, the Fondazione Italiana Accenture, GreenTec Capital Partners, Sidley Austin LLP, SME Finance Forum, and Sustainable Business Consulting.

Young, green entrepreneurs from Ghana, Peru, Rwanda, and Uganda will share their experiences as part of the Awards launch, on Thursday, 12 August at 14:00 CEST.
‘Young entrepreneurs are a driving force to build back better and greener. We want to offer a stage and a sounding board for these green solutions,’ said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.

The Youth Ecopreneur Awards aim to activate the youth-led green enterprises of today to become sustainable employers of tomorrow, thus shaping the economy of the future.
Awards will be for solutions in three categories: renewable energy and energy efficiency; waste management; and water efficiency.

Young ecopreneurs up to the age of 35 from developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply. The winners will receive technical support, grant funding and access to networks and international markets.
The application deadline is 15 September 2021. Technical committees will screen and shortlist submissions for each category. They will look for: environmental impact, business model, and supporting documents on business profitability. Finalists will be announced in November.

The final selection will be based on a pitching competition in November 2021, where finalists will present their enterprises to a jury comprised of senior experts among the awards partners. Three winners – one per each category – will be awarded and receive their support package.

Join the awards launch
More about the awards
Apply here: Youth Ecopreneur Awards Application
More on ITC’s GreenToCompete strategy 

About ITC - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, visit www.intracen.org.
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Media enquiries about ITC should be directed to
Natalie Domeisen
ITC Communications and Events
E: domeisen [at] intracen.org (domeisen[at]intracen[dot]org)