GREEN BUSINESS COMPETITION AND ITS VALUE PROPOSITION

Green Business Competition aims to stimulate and encourage innovation for green business ideas at the local level and explores the role of philanthropy in engaging local communities to generate green business ideas that utilize local resources and revitalize disappearing traditional production chains and community-based markets.

By supporting innovative, local sustainable economic development initiatives, Green Business Competition aims to substantively contribute to building a peaceful, competitive, and prosperous Western Balkans and Greece region.

The program is providing financial support and targeted assistance to selected ideas and businesses that are offering innovative solutions and contribute to the achievement of the following seven (7) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region of Western Balkans, namely:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 7: Clean Energy. Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• SDG 13: Climate Action. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 15: Life on Land. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

The Green Business Competition works on the principles of environmental responsibility, ethical conduct, diversity, inclusion, and empowerment, not dependency for the purpose of promoting the well-being of local communities, by boosting entrepreneurship and enabling people to understand and take control of their full potential.

The Green Business Competition in Albania is financially supported by Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Tirana Bank, and Credins Bank.

THE MAIN PURPOSE

The aim of the Green Business Competition is to support business initiatives that promote social inclusion, through integration and employment, and local economic development through environmentally friendly ideas.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

Any proposal submitted under this call, should fall under one of the following lots:

LOT 1: Business Ideas at Conceptual Stage

This lot refers to business proposals that are in a conceptual/ embryonic phase, and that have not been registered yet. The fund will support business proposals for a period from six (6) to nine (9) months, with a maximum of funding of no more than 500,000 ALL.

LOT 2: Businesses in Pre-Seed Stage

This lot refers to business proposals that are already in the market, in the early stages of development, but existing for no more than 3 years. The fund will support business proposals for a period from six (6) to nine (9) months, with a maximum of funding of no more than 800,000 ALL.

It is encouraged to have funds from alternative sources!

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Who can apply?
The competition is open to:

• Individuals. Individuals are not eligible to apply in LOT 2. In case the business proposal is selected for funding, it would be required for it to be registered as a legal entity before the funding agreement is signed and funds are released. The legal form chosen is up to the individual and it should be foreseen in the business proposals.
• Social Enterprises with a maximum positive balance of 2,000,000 ALL.
• Small business ventures with a maximum annual profit of 2,000,000 ALL.
• Non-profit organizations with a maximum positive balance of 2,000,000 ALL.

Application Criteria for Business Ideas at Conceptual Stage (LOT 1):

• The idea is in the conceptual phase, the products or services are not yet present in the market;
• The idea relies primarily upon local resources, including the employment of local people and utilizing traditional skills;
• The idea has a vision or action plan for environmental sustainability;
• The idea has a plan for economic viability and/or incremental growth;
• The idea has an innovative approach and valuable social impact;
• The idea has assessed the local market and is aware of its competitors and comparative advantages;
• The idea is innovative and unique compared to other businesses and initiatives in the community;
• The idea is having a focus or contributes to one of the listed SDGs 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 15.

Application Criteria for Businesses in Pre – Seed Stage (LOT 2):

• The business is still in the early stages of development, the products or services are present in the market for a period no longer than three years;
• The business relies primarily upon local resources, including by employing local people and utilizing traditional skills;
• The business has a vision or action plan for environmental sustainability;
• The business has a plan for economic viability and/or incremental growth;
• The business has an innovative approach and valuable social impact;
• The business has assessed the local market and is aware of its competitors and comparative advantages;
• The business is innovative and unique compared to other businesses and initiatives in the community;
• The business is having a focus or contributes to one of the listed SDGs 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13 and 15.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The required documents are:

1. Application form
2. Financial form
3. Business Model Canvas
4. A document certifying the legal status of the applicant entity (this does not apply for individuals).
5. Financial statements of the last year (this does not apply for individuals).

Additional documents to be submitted:

In addition to the documents listed above, applicants will also need to submit:

1. CV of the individual applicant / a CV of the entity, as well as a description of the implementing team;
2. Proof of criminal record of the individual applicant (for applications in Lot-1); proof of criminal record of the administrator / director of the entity / organization (for applications in Lot-2);
3. Certification that the entity is free of unpaid obligations (this does not apply to individuals).

“The “Application Form”, “Financial Form” and the “Business Model Canvas” have to be submitted in accordance with the templates made available from the Green Business Competition 2024. No other similar format or template will be accepted as application documents.

How to submit the application?

Applications can only be submitted after registering on the Dua Partner Invest platform, by following the necessary steps. If you have not previously registered on this platform, go to the ‘Entrepreneur’ menu, sub-menu ‘Process’ to see the registration steps.

Registering on the DPI platform

Step 1

• If you are an individual, you have to register as an ‘Entrepreneur – Individual with Business Ideas’
• If you are an NPO or a business, you will register as an ‘Entrepreneur – Registered Start-up’

Step 2  

• Complete all the questionnaire fields. In the Business Idea Name and Idea Description put the idea you are applying to Green Business Competition call.
• After you send it, you will receive a pop-up asking you to verify your email. Verify the email you entered in the questionnaire.
• Using the password and email you entered in the registration questionnaire, log in to the platform and fill in the “About me” field in your profile with no more than 300 characters. You will then have to wait for the platform administrator to approve your profile.
• Once the administrator approves your profile you will receive an email informing you of this. Please log in the platform with the email and password provided so you may also receive messages from the administrator if guidance is needed.

Step 3

• Once approved, you will find a “Funding Opportunity” menu on the dashboard. After clicking the this menu, you will find “Green Business Competition 2024“.
• You will click on the “open” button in the “Green Business Competition 2024” scheme. There you will be introduced to general information about the scheme.
• Then you will click the “Apply” button where you will find 3 document templates: Application Form; 2. Financial Form; 3. Canvas Business Model.
• You can fill in the online application form and after downloading the 3 documents, you will work according to the respective template and when you are ready you will upload them. According to the LOT you are applying to, you will upload other required documents as specified in the section “The required documents” of this Call.
• Then you will click the “Send” button.
• CAREFUL! You can save the application at any time, and press “Send” only after you are sure that you have uploaded all the necessary documentation.

Step 4  

• Log in to the platform from time to time after the application submission deadline to see the status of your application. Whether you will be selected from the first phase or not, you will receive a message within the platform in both cases.
• Even if you are not selected from the first phase, your idea will stay on the platform to benefit from the advantages offered by the platform.
• In case you are selected from the first stage, you will receive communications from Partners Albania within the Dua Partner Invest platform as well as by email for the preparation for the national competition where you will present in front of the jury. If you have problems with the registration or application process, please contact via email: info@duapartnerinvest.com

Language

The applications should be submitted in the Albanian language.

Assistance to applicants

To support individuals and entities who will express an interest in applying at Green Business Competition, Partners Albania will organize a two-day training program on the topics “Preparation of the Business Plan” and “Marketing and Promotion”. The attendees that will express an interest to participate in the training program are strongly required to have a business proposal for the competition. 

Training on the “Preparation of the Business Plan” will be organized on April 30th, 2024! 

Training on “Marketing and Promotion” will be organized on May 3rd, 2024! 

The interested individuals and entities who are willing to participate in the training session should express their interest no later than April 29th 2024 by sending an email at info@duapartnerinvest.com and register in advance at the provided link!

Information sessions

To assist all interested applicants, Partners Albania will organize orientation information sessions regarding the procedures and the application process in the following dates:

*To participate in the online information session online, Please register in the following link, before March 19^th, 2024: link https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAof-2qrzwrE9ErfeqlBHJsBC5a_8Jwaa29

**The on-site information session will be held at Partners Albania offices, at the following address: Elbasani Street, Park Gate Building, 10th floor, App. 71 / 73, PO BOX 2418/1, 1010, Tirana, Albania. Interested individuals and entities to participate in this information session, should express their interest no later than April 30th 2024, by sending an email at info@duapartnerinvest.com.

Every question regarding the Green Business Competition 2024 should be sent by April 29^th, 2024 to the following email address: info@duapartnerinvest.com. The answers will be published on May 3 rd, 2024 on Partners Albania and Dua Partner Albania websites.

The deadline to submit the applications for the Green Business Competition 2024 is May 10th, 2024, at 16:00!

THE SELECTION PROCESS       

The selection process will be conducted by a jury of experts from the economic, environmental, business and academic fields.

The evaluation process will be conducted in three phases:

• The first phase will consist in the selection of business proposals that fulfill the basic application criteria along with the required documents. The selection of shortlisted candidates from the first phase will be made by Partners Albania.

• The second phase will consist in an open competition of the shortlisted candidates from the first phase. Five business proposals will be awarded through a selection made by an independent Jury of experts.
  • The top three out of five business proposals awarded at the national level, will compete in the regional competition.
  • The three winners going to the regional competition will compete for additional funds of 5,000 $ for LOT 1 and 10,000 $ for LOT 2.

• The third phase will consist in an onsite verification process and budget negotiation, if deemed necessary.

Being awarded winner from the national competition, does not constitute an obligation for financing on behalf of Partners Albania. The grant allocation will be conditioned by the successful completion of all the phases of the process.

Granting:

The disbursement of the grant will be made through reimbursement, after presenting all the necessary invoices for the expenses, in accordance with the approved budget and based on the Grant Agreement and the specific timeframes set out in the agreement.