CLIMATE

SMART
ENTERPRISE
IDEA SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Apply before 14th June, 2022

Disclaimer: This idea submission guideline was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its content are the sole
responsibility of YI-Lab and its consortium partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

INNOVATION LAB
 CLIMATE SMART ENTREPRENEURSHIP
IDEA SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
PROJECT
OVERVIEW
Nepali Yuwa in Climate Action and Green
Growth (NYCAGG) project is funded by the
European Union to promote the involvement of
Nepali youth in green growth, environmental
protection, and combating climate change.
NYCAGG is a four-year-long project that will
be implemented in Madhesh Province, Karnali
Province, and Sudurpaschim Province through
the Consortium Lead – Youth Innovation Lab
(YI-Lab) and Consortium Partners – Restless
Development, CREASION, and CDMS.
NYCAGG project focuses on working with young
people and providing them with a platform to aid
ABOUT
CLIMATE SMART
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The impact of climate change spans the impacts
on the physical environment, ecosystems, and
human societies. With the threatening uncertainty
facing humanity due to climate change, there also
lies a tremendous opportunity for innovation,
entrepreneurship, and investment. If we can face
these challenges with climate-resilient actions
like promoting climate-smart entrepreneurship,
it will improve sustainability as well as help in
economic recovery.
Climate Entrepreneurs are agents of change who
see the creation of ventures as a way to address
urgent climate and environmental challenges.
Climate Entrepreneurs can be the catalysts
necessary to combat climate change and achieve
the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. In
in the post-COVID recovery and development
process. Furthermore, the activities under Climate
Fellowship, Climate Smart Entrepreneurship,
Mentee-mentorship, Digital Advocacy, and Youth
Sounding Board work towards empowering
young people, providing them employment
opportunities, generating innovative ideas to
address climate and environmental issues,
and advocating for policy changes to promote
environmental protection.
building up a business, Climate Entrepreneurs
focus not only on the growth of the venture but also
enable a greener and more sustainable ecosystem.
Some of the common sectors that climate and
environment entrepreneurs engage with are waste
management, renewable energy, sustainable
agriculture, sustainable forest management, and
circular economy.
Therefore, Climate Smart Entrepreneurship
is a platform for innovators, ideators, and
entrepreneurs who are transforming and
reorienting entrepreneurial development under
the realities of climate change. It is a collaborative
space where the youths who are determined to
address the pressing environmental and climatic
concerns co-create solutions that are innovative
and sustainable. Through Climate Smart
Entrepreneurship, the project aims to provide
innovative and creative space and mentorship
opportunities to young people where they can
address the most critical challenges of their
communities and find innovative solutions to
increase their community’s resilience and move
towards sustainability.
NYCAGG project recognizes that if young resilience.
people are provided with opportunities and space,
they can be agents of change to reduce prevailing
risks of climate-induced disasters, promote
green enterprises, and support the post-COVID
recovery process.
NYCAGG project, in the leadership of
CREASION, announces the call for idea
submission from Madhesh Province under the
thematic areas of green economy and climate

Climate-Smart Entrepreneurship Ideas Call Out!

WHO CAN
APPLY?
Young “green” entrepreneurs or individuals
having innovative business ideas that address
environmental and social challenges are highly
encouraged to apply!!
Youth aged between 15 to 29 and already
working or planning to work in the thematic
areas of green economy, and climate resilience
in Madesh Province;
Young people with innovative ideas that have
the potential to deliver environmental, social,
and economic impacts are highly encouraged
to submit their ideas;
Innovative market-driven enterprise providing
solutions to social and environmental
challenges (such as solid waste management,
air pollution, disaster risk reduction, climate
change, and green mobility);
Scalable enterprises developing products/
solutions that are socially and environmentally
acceptable and have a high potential for
employment generation;
Registered/non-registered and already
operational or in the early to growth stage
green enterprises that are locally led and have
the potential for scaling-up and replication;
Ideas can be submitted on an individual basis
or as a team.

WHAT ARE THE

BENEFITS?
20 shortlisted ideas will get opportunities
to work closely with their mentors from
renowned sectors for six months to nurture
their ideas;
An award day will be organized where
shortlisted applicants will pitch their ideas to
the selection committee;
6 best ideas will get innovation grants of up to
NPR. 1,25,000 (In words: One Lakh Twenty-
Five Thousand) and space to work on their
ideas and develop prototypes;
Get an experiential learning platform,
mentorship, and networking opportunities to
develop their entrepreneurial skills;
Support and guidance in developing the idea
into a venture;
Selected 6 ideas will receive assistance
 in the registration of their enterprises,
legal compliances, working with financial
institutions for business sustainability,
business plans, prototype development, etc.;
The best enterprises nurtured will be provided
with opportunities to participate in the
enterprise promotion events happening locally
and at the provincial level by leveraging
partnerships with concerned authorities;
Peer-to-peer learning with others working on
similar ideas in Kathmandu;
Mentee-mentorship certificates will be
provided to those who complete the program;
Prototype developed will be showcased on
the final certificates’ distribution day;
The journey and achievements of young
entrepreneurs will be well documented and
shared through social media pages of the
project, CREASION, YI-Lab, and the EU.

WHILE APPLYING,
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

Pay close attention to the questions and use

the guidance tool under the questions to help
shape your answers.
Remember to provide your answers in a
simple manner and note the word limits of
“
Interested applicants are requested to fill-up the
online applications form available at:
https://theyouthcan.org/climate-smart-
entrepreneurship

each answer (shown in the brackets)

Consider drafting your answers elsewhere Application deadline:
first if you choose to take a long time to fill
out the application; any unsaved work will be 14th June 2022
lost once you log out.
Only complete online application forms
submitted will be entertained by the selection
committee.
If you would like more information on climate-
smart entrepreneurship, please go through the
FAQs section.

NYCAGG believes in leaving no one behind and highly encourages all the interested applicants,
especially youth and aspiring young entrepreneurs including indigenous community members,
minority caste groups, and smallholder farmers to apply.

If you have any queries, please contact phurpa@creasion.org or +977-9801042765

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
What idea/enterprise fall under Climate-Smart Enterprise?
Idea/Enterprise that falls under Climate-Smart Enterprises could be:
Idea/Enterprise that addresses social, environmental, and climate

01
challenges;
Idea/Enterprise whose product is socially and environmentally
acceptable;
Idea/Enterprise that ensures sustainability and extracts maximum
value from limited resources;
Idea/Enterprise that minimizes or emits no carbon emission;

Do I need to have a registered company to apply?

02 No, you do not need to have a registered company to apply. However,

your planned enterprise needs to be located and registered in Madesh
Province to get an innovation grant.

I have my company registered a few years ago but it has not been
functional due to COVID, am I eligible to apply?

03 Yes, both functional and non-functional companies that were registered

within the last five years are eligible to apply, if the founder/co-
founder who will be participating in Climate Smart Entrepreneurship
is 15-29 years during the idea submission.

I am not a local of Madhesh Province. Can I apply?

04 If your idea/enterprise is or will be addressing the environmental and

climatic concerns of Madhesh Province and is or will be registered in
Madhesh Province, you are eligible to apply.

Will the organizing committee, mentors, or investors take equity

shares in my business?

05
No, the organizing committee/mentors will not take stock or equity
in your business. However, your mentor (who might be a potential
investor) or other potential investors might offer you the opportunity
to invest in your idea against some equity. You will have the full
freedom to decide based on mutual benefit.

What will happen if we get another wave of COVID-19 or in case

of other unforeseen situations?

06 The project will follow the protocols put in place by provincial and
local governments during the implementation period. Alternative
methods will be followed (for example virtual events) where
applicable.
 I have indigenous solutions to solve the current environmental

07 and social challenges, am I eligible to apply?

Yes, indigenous and local solutions to solve environmental and social
challenges are most welcome.

How will the ideas be shortlisted?

Some of the basis for shortlisting ideas are:
The applicant (founder/co-founder) participating in Climate Smart

08
Entrepreneurship should be 15-29 years during the idea submission;
Idea/enterprise should be addressing climate and environmental
issues in the thematic area of green economy and climate resilience;
Idea/enterprise should have the potential to create a positive impact in
the community;
Idea/enterprise should have market opportunities to scale up.

How will the idea/enterprise be selected for the innovation grant?

09
On the award day, selected ideas/enterprises will be provided with
opportunities to pitch their business ideas. Based on that, the selection
committee will select the six ideas/enterprises to receive an innovation
grant.

What benefits do I receive if my idea/enterprise is shortlisted?

If your idea/enterprise is shortlisted, you will be mentored by sectoral
experts and receive guidance on polishing your idea/business,
networking with business professionals, skills development, and

10 more. Selected ideas/enterprises (max 6) will get incubation space

to develop prototype and innovation grants (up to NPR 1,25,000) to
carry their ideas/enterprises forward. Further mentorship support for
prototype development, legal compliance, financial bridging with
financial institutions, and advanced networking opportunities will
also be provided.

What is the timeline for Climate Smart Entrepreneurship?

The timeline for the first cohort of Climate Smart Entrepreneurship
is scheduled for July to December 2022. The top 20 shortlisted

11
applicants will receive a mentorship program for three months (with
a possibility of extension for an additional three months) and award
day is scheduled for the end of September 2022. The selected ideas/
enterprises (max 6) will get innovation grants and further support
for legal compliance and financial networking up to the month of
December.