NETFUND award propelling enterprise innovations toward green development
By Samwel Ouma
NETFUND Green Innovations Award is a green entrepreneurship initiative promotion giving up to Sh5 million to a business incubation that provide environmentally friendly solutions.
The third Phase of NETFUND Green Innovations Award was launched on the 24th November, 2015 with support from the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi, USAID, and the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Environment Natural Resources & RDAs among other funding and implementing partners.
Call for application to the award is ongoing until 30th of January 2016. ”Every green project from all over the country is encouraged to apply online on www.netfund.go.ke or by picking application forms at NEMA, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Wildlife Service and Women Enterprise Fund county offices as well as Posta office branches countrywide,” explained NETFUND, Ag. Communications and Awards Manager Ms. Carole Macharia.
“In addition to incubation, winning initiatives that may not have a business angle to them but are good environmental initiatives stand to benefit from funding aimed at up-scaling their initiatives.
The funding in form of grants is awarded in two tranches and amounts to Sh1 million for first prize winners in all categories, Sh500, 000 for second prize winners in all categories and third prize winners Sh250,000 for third prize winners in all categories. The overall winner gets an additional SH1 million” adds Ms. Macharia.
The program targets bottom of the pyramid segment of the population by encouraging entrepreneurs in the grassroots to come up with green development enterprises in the areas of energy, waste management, water conservation and agribusiness.
Innovative ideas stand a chance of being supported with a seed capital worth Sh2 million.
The award is also geared towards giving participants a platform to showcase environmentally friendly initiatives, give them an opportunity to be recognized and link them to investors for the most viable green initiatives.
“For eligibility, applicants must be located in Kenya and their initiatives must have a clear focus on environmental management and conservation.
The initiatives must also demonstrate tangible results towards solving a given environmental issue and conform to existing environmental regulations,” said Sweeny Ogeto, Senior Projects Officer at NETFUND.
The program aims at achieving solutions that tackle climate change and poverty reduction while enhancing green entrepreneurships.
“Since no one wants to destroy the environment willfully, we believe we can sustain ourselves while respecting the environment and pursue development in a sustainable way. NETFUND GIA supports green enterprising in line with vision 2030 and attention drawn to climate change on low carbon economies.” explained Sweeny.
Small and medium sized enterprises, secondary schools, primary schools, individuals, civil society organizations and women groups are eligible and are encouraged to participate in this competition. After the application process, selection is done in two phases.
“After the application process, the ideas are audited and the best idea selected by judges who come from relevant fields of expertise, due diligence is done and the best ideas selected to pre-incubation process where their concepts are proved.” Sweeny Said.
