Applications open for Kosovo Green Challenge: NextGen (2nd Edition)

This acceleration programme is a pivotal and holistic initiative aimed at steering towards recovery from the dual challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and energy crises. It seeks to establish a conducive environment, while placing the well-being of the most marginalized communities at the forefront of its priorities.

UNDP Kosovo invites micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) looking to bolster their resilience, but lack the necessary knowledge and funding, to submit innovative solutions, addressing the interconnected environmental, economic, social, and health crises. These crises underscore the importance of pursuing an equitable and inclusive green recovery.

The BOOST x Kosovo acceleration program will handpick a maximum of 30 MSMEs that demonstrate significant business potential for making the shift towards environmental sustainability as a crucial component of a green recovery. This programme will focus on developing sustainable business models, enhancing risk management capabilities, and fortifying disaster resilience. Through their participation, these enterprises will propel their innovative solutions to the next level and amplify their impact. They place particular emphasis on supporting women-led MSMEs and those poised to generate significant employment opportunities, fostering a comprehensive transition toward a greener future.

Modules

• The BOOST x Kosovo acceleration programme curriculum is perfectly tailored for you to expand your knowledge and accelerate your innovative solution.
• The programme includes a combination of individual and group mentoring sessions for entrepreneurship, coaching, and technical advice, aimed at enhancing your impact-driven capabilities, improving your business skills, preparing you for investment, and developing soft skills, including networking and pitching. It also facilitates access to extensive business networks, investors, and other types of funders while increasing your organization’s cross-sector visibility.
  • Module 1: SDG Impact Management 
    • Module 1 focuses on equipping the MSMEs with a better understanding of the concept and principles of impact and how impact interlinks with sustainability and scalability. The MSMEs will learn how to develop SDG-aligned impact visions and theories of change, with indicators for proper impact monitoring and management.
  • Module 2: Tech And Digital Transformation 
    • Module 2 consists of a training course focused on the principles for digital development and how they can be applied to drive social impact. The course introduces nine digital principles, contextualizes them in a case study, and showcases tools and resources that can be applied to all stages of a project life cycle.
  • Module 3: Business Acceleration
    • Module 3 focuses on developing the MSMEs’ business, organizational, and management skills and capabilities. Participants get access to a step-by-step roadmap and approaches to building enduring business models to further develop and scale their projects and solutions. Topics covered in this module include Design thinking, Understanding your Target Group and Value Proposition, Prototyping, Building and Testing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Business Model Innovation, Financial Resilience, Innovative Finance, Design and Branding Strategies: (Agile) Project Management, Storytelling, Preparing and Presenting a Pitch Deck.
  • Module 4: Green Transformation
    • Module 4 introduces the green economy concept, environmental challenges, and circular economy. During the sessions, you will explore ways to promote an inclusive green economy and integrate innovation and green transition into your business modules (enhance energy management in the commercial and industrial domains, main risks and their mitigation, financing possibilities, market trends, etc.).
  • Mentorship and Peer-To-Peer Learning 
    • To ensure the best outcome of the learning journey, you will be matched with mentors with whom you will have routine meetings to discuss and evaluate your organization’s progress. These focal points and mentors will also match you with relevant individuals, organizations and investors in their respective networks as well as facilitate peer-to-peer learning by connecting MSMEs working in similar fields and/or using similar technologies or business models.

Funding Information

• At the end of the programme, 15 MSMEs will be awarded grants, with a total budget of 70,000 EUR to be distributed (a 20% co-financing is requested from the MSMEs).

What they’re looking for?

• They aim to support innovative green solutions, with a particular focus on those that promote greener business practices and enhance:
  • Sustainability
  • Efficiency
  • Circular economy practices
  • Digitalization

Eligibility Criteria

• Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
• Type: You are a local MSME with at least 1 year of business operations.
• Location: You are registered and intend to implement your project in Kosovo.
• Language: Proficiency in English, Albanian, and/or Serbian.

Selection Criteria

• Innovation: Demonstrate the use of cutting-edge technologies, innovative digital tools, or introduces novel ideas, approaches, products, or services to a target group or market.
• Viability and scalability: The innovative solution can be developed, tested, and/or implemented within one month after graduating from the BOOST x Kosovo acceleration programme. Furthermore, it also has the potential to be scaled, either within its current geographical region of operation or beyond.
• Potential for impact: MSMEs should exhibit a strong understanding of the systems in which they operate and the ability to continually assess and adapt their businesses to changing contexts and markets. The innovation solution should demonstrate a high potential for impact through a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Management: MSMEs must demonstrate an adequate team with clear roles and responsibilities, along with the capacity to implement their innovations within one month.

For more information, visit UNDP.