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 and Greece:

• SDG 2 Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
• SDG 7 Clean Energy
• SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 11 Sustainable Cities
• SDG 12 Sustainable Consumption and Production (circular economy)
• SDG 13 Climate Change
• SDG 15 Life on Land

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 within 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. The fund will support business proposals for a period no longer than nine (9) months and 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 no longer than nine (9) months with a maximum of funding no more than 800,000 ALL. It is encouraged to have funds from alternative sources!

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 1,200,000 ALL.
• Small business ventures with a maximum annual profit of 1,200,000 ALL
• Non-profit organizations with a maximum positive balance of 1,200,000 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 focuses on or contributes to one of the listed SDGs 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 15.

Application Criteria for Businesses in Pre – Seed Phase (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 required documents:
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)

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 of 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 of 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 of 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.

Assistance to applicants

To support individuals and entities who will express an interest in applying at Green Business Ideas Competition, Partners Albania will organize a two-day training program on the 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 18^th, 2023!

Training on Marketing and Promotion will be organized on April 19^th, 2023!

The interested individuals and entities who are willing to participate in the training session should express their interest no later than April 12^th 2023 by sending an email at info@duapartnerinvest.com!

How to Apply?         

Applications can only be submitted after registering at Dua Partner Invest platform, by following the steps below. If you are not already registered in the platform, go to the “Entrepreneur” menu, the “Process” submenu to see the necessary registration steps on the 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 Business Idea Description put the idea you are applying to the 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 to 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. There you will find the “Green Business Competition 2023” open call.
• You will click on the “open” button in the “Green Business Competition 2023” 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 fields, and after downloading the 3 documents, you will work according to the respective template and when you are ready you will upload them.
• If you are registered as a business or as an NPO you will also upload 4. the document verifying the legal status of the entity and 5. the Financial Statement for the last year.
• Then you will click the “Send” button.

Step 4  

• After the application submission deadline, you will receive a message from the platform about the status of your application.
• 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 by email for the preparation for the national competition where you will present in front of a jury.
• If you have problems with the registration or application process, please contact in the email: info@duapartnerinvest.com

Language

The business proposals should be submitted in the Albanian language.

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:

• On-site Info Session: Date: 12.04.2023, Time 10:00
• Online Info Session: Date 13.04.2023, Time 10:00

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, Tirana, Albania. Individuals and entities interested to participate, should express their interest no later than April 7^th 2023, by sending an email at info@duapartnerinvest.com.

To participate in the online info session, register until April 12, 2023 in the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpdu2trDssHtVE3Orep7F3qOTZqMBSq211

Questions about the Green Business Competition 2023 may be sent by mail within April 14, 2023 to info@duapartnerinvest.com. The answers will be published on April 20, 2023, on Partners Albania’s website: www.partnersalbania.org and Dua Partner Invest’s website: https://duapartnerinvest.com/

The deadline to submit the applications for Green Business Competition is April 28^th 2023, at 16:00.

Watch here the online infosession