GSMA Innovation Fund for Climate Resilience and Adaptation seeks to help accelerate the testing, adoption and scalability of digital innovations that enable the world’s most vulnerable populations to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. GSMA aims to test innovations that can increase the capacity of low-income and vulnerable communities to adapt, and develop approaches or business models that can be scaled to build climate resilience and adaptation. Successful projects will receive an equity-free grant of between £100 thousand and £250 thousand to scale their innovation over a 15 to 18 month period. Start-ups, small and medium enterprises and social enterprises in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Latin America and Eastern Europe are eligible to apply. Applications close on 09 January 2022. GSMA Innovation Fund
social enterprise
Yunus Environment Hub — Sustainable Food Systems in East Africa
The GrowUp Incubator supports early-stage entrepreneurs with innovative solutions that have the potential to create substantial environmental and social impact. The 2022 cohort of GrowUp Incubator addresses sustainable food systems in East Africa to enable sustainable agricultural production and support sustainable practices along the whole food value chain and to mitigate climate change and build resilient communities. Selected entrepreneurs receive tailored mentorship, interactive capacity building workshops and networking opportunities with local partners. Eligibility extends to social business entrepreneurs in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi. The call for applications closes 21 November 2021. GrowUp Incubator
Asian Development Bank — Energy Efficiency Innovation Challenge
Energy Efficiency Innovation Challenge calls for the submission of business ideas or solutions that can contribute to lowering energy consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Eligibility extends to companies operating or based in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The deadline for submissions of EOIs is 01 November 2021. Energy Efficiency Innovation Challenge
Ashoka — Fellowship Mexico, Central America, Caribbean
The Ashoka Fellowship selects social entrepreneurs with high impact and systems change projects in Mexico, Central American and Caribbean countries. Ashoka seeks projects with innovative strategies, methods, or new approaches to address opportunities and problems. Initiatives need to solve a problem at the root level and have the potential to generate geographically scaled impact. Applications have to be submitted by 16 October 2021. Ashoka Fellowship
PES Latam Alliance — Support for Social Entrepreneurs in Latin America
PES Latam Alliance supports social entrepreneurs in Latin America to accelerate their impact in the region. The Bridge for Billions program seeks social businesses with innovative solutions working to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. Selected social enterprises will be able to access up to US$50 thousand of seed capital, support through courses and events, training with alliance partners, and a community of entrepreneurs. The applicants must be a registered hybrid or for-profit business and must have been operating (selling product/service) for at least a year. The application form has to be submitted by 20 October 2021. Bridge for Billions Fellowship
Famae — Sustainable Innovations Challenge
The company Famae seeks innovative and concrete solutions to fight against climate change, everywhere in the world, around waste, water, food, habitat, energy and mobility. Solutions should be pragmatic, efficient, durable, and money-saving to make life easier for urban citizens while reducing their environmental footprint. Individuals, teams, businesses, government entities, universities and organizations are eligible to apply. The maximum award is €1 million which may be allocated to a single exceptional project to cover the production of a prototype. Applications will be accepted until 15 October 2021. Find the terms and conditions
Young Water Solutions — Young Water Fellowship Program: Uganda
Young Water Solutions supports young entrepreneurs to launch their water and sanitation related social businesses. The Young Water Fellowship provides training, seed-funding and mentorship. The workshop aims to empower its participants to implement projects addressing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), water pollution, and water scarcity. All training costs (flights, transportation, accommodation, meals) are covered by the organization. To be eligible, applicants must be 18 to 30 years old, intend to stay in Uganda for at least 1.5 years after the training and spend at least 15 hours per week to work on their social business. The call for applications is open until 21 October 2021. Link
Ministry of Economic Affairs Taiwan — Taiwan Excellence Awards
The “Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring” campaign solicits proposals for philanthropic events on issues relating to social concerns and environmental protection. The three best proposals will be awarded US$10 thousand each. The funds for executing each of the three best proposals shall be decided by the organizers, provided that the funds for implementation do not exceed US$150 thousand. Any natural persons or legal persons may submit proposals. Proposals must be submitted by 31 October 2021. Taiwan Excellence Awards
MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab — Arab Startup Competition 2022
The Arab Startup Competition is a yearly competition run by the MIT Enterprise Forum Pan Arab in three different tracks: Ideas; Startups; and Social Entrepreneurship. Previous winners include examples in agricultural irrigation, transportation efficiency, and other green themes. The winning entrepreneurs are awarded prizes of up to US$50 thousand as well as training, mentorship, coaching, media exposure, and networking opportunities. Eligible enterprises can be located in any Arab country, and each team must have at least two members. The application deadline is 06 December 2021. Link to the competition
U.S. African Development Foundation — Mandela Washington Fellows Program
The Mandela Washington Fellows Program provides up to US$25 thousand in funding to African-owned, sustainable social ventures. Venture must be based in and operate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Applicants have to demonstrate how the venture will improve and change the communities in which the grants are implemented. Applications are open until 21 September 2021. More info here