Nature2Nature Gender-Smart Program (Philippines)

They are looking for local Nature-based Enterprises with solutions dedicated to restoring biodiversity, supporting local communities, and bolstering long-term resilience to climate change.

The program is seeking applications from Nature-based Enterprises (NbEs) operating and/or creating impact in Palawan that sustainably use and develop natural resources around marine or forest-protected areas, and promote conservation directly through the provision of its goods and services.

This program is designed and implemented by Villgro Philippines in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

Aims

Nature2Nurture aims to:

• Identify and support high-potential women-led Nature-based Enterprises with market-based models to grow in Palawan
• Enable and support sustainable livelihoods for women and/or underserved local communities
• Develop and strengthen sustainable solutions that protect and conserve the local ecological ecosystems
• Build a pipeline of Nature-Based Enterprises creating biodiversity-positive impact through locally-led solutions
• Contribute to the growth of knowledge and visibility of nature-based solutions

What the program offers?

Nature2Nurture is an 8-month high-touch program with access to grant funding, a blend of in-person and online training sessions, one-on-one business mentoring, curated industry support, technical assistance around finance, marketing, and HR to help build organizational capacity, accelerate business growth and measure impact.

• Technical Support
  • A customized program designed to empower enterprises by enhancing skills and knowledge in key areas of business, finance, climate and social impact, and gender assessment through deep-dive learning sessions and coaching.
• Seed Funding
  • Each enterprise will receive a grant of up to PHP 200,000 to be used to conduct lean experiments to validate business models during the program.
• Peer Learning and Coaching
  • Enterprises will go through intensive virtual ‘learning labs’ facilitated by experts through a high-impact curriculum and deep dives with peers through sharing circles
• Mentoring
  • Access to one-to-one mentoring by business and domain experts to support lean experimentation and business model validation and growth.
• Technical Assistance
  • Tailored technical assistance on accounting, finance, and marketing to help build strong operational fundamentals of the business.
• Investment Readiness
  • Each enterprise will receive basic investment readiness assessment and pitch training from the in-house investment and finance experts to build/strengthen their financial management systems and refine financial models.
• Follow-on Funding
  • Enterprises that are ready and have investment potential will have the opportunity to get matched with and pitch to Villgro’s partner investors at the end of the accelerator program.
• Impact Showcase
  • An opportunity for the enterprises to showcase their solutions to investors, funders, peers, and stakeholders.

Who can apply?

• They are looking for Nature-Based Enterprises:
  • Owned and/or led by women
  • Operating and/or creating impact in Palawan
  • Solutions focused on one or more of the following:
    • Ecosystems Creation, Restoration, and Management
    • Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production
    • Sustainable Forestry and Biomaterials
    • Sustainable Tourism and Community Health and Wellbeing
  • Early-stage enterprises with proof of concept, early test validation, and demonstrable growth potential
  • A registered entity with SEC/DTI and/or other local authorities
  • Actively working with communities or beneficiaries in Palawan.

For more information, visit VIllgro Philippines.