Deadline: July 6, 2021.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Danish MoFA) and Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) have partnered to implement the GreenBiz Programme for the next five years, from January 2021 to December 2025. The support to KCIC (and KCV) under this engagement totals DKK 54,750,00, approximately Kes. 1 billion with a focus on climate technologies and related innovative business models. The programme will support 300 businesses to create over 3,000 full time job opportunities.

The Kenya Climate Innovation Center, which is the implementing partner, is placing a call for applications to our GreenBiz  programme to support climate technologies and related business models into the programme. The GreenBiz Programme will address key challenges that hinder climate technologies and related innovative business models from tapping into the immense potential in the cleantech sector.

ELIGIBILITY

Business Compliance

The applicant should be registered under the laws of Kenya.

○   Limited Liability company

○   Sole Proprietorship but willing to register the business as limited company within the first 3 months once a business is selected

Location: The business must be located and legally registered in   Kenya.

Scope: The company should be within the below mentioned thematic   areas:

○   Agribusiness.

○   Water management.

○   Renewable energy and energy efficiency.

○   Waste Management

○   Commercial forestry

Agribusiness: Businesses focusing in any of the following areas will be considered but are not limited to;

• Resilient crops/seeds.
• Climate smart/energy efficient agricultural machinery
• Efficient irrigation mechanisms/Technologies.
• Efficient/value addition and food processing
• Climate friendly inputs/alternatives for example pesticides, fertilizers, and other field operations.
• Post-harvest management technologies

Water Management: KCIC is focusing on businesses that are developing sustainable and innovative water management interventions associated with, but are not limited to:

• Solar filtration
• Desalination
• Innovative technologies in rainwater harvesting and storage
• Efficient irrigation technologies
• Biotechnology for water treatment.
• Smart Water Metering
• Supply and distribution of clean water

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: KCIC is looking to support innovative businesses that innovatively offers climate change mitigation or adaptation solutions through any or all of the following, but are not limited to:

• Off-grid technologies – solar PV, biogas, biomass and wind
• Micro-hydro – domestic and rural mini-grid use
• Bio-energy – bio-gasification, bio-diesel, biomass power and heating
• Energy Efficient Technologies; Cook stoves, Solar Lanterns,
• Energy metering and Energy Storage technologies.

Waste Management: KCIC is interested to incubate innovative businesses falling within any of the following areas, but are not limited to:

• Efficient waste aggregation and processing
• Reduction of waste toxicity
• Upcycling waste materials
• Recycling waste materials
• Conversion of waste to energy
• Economic ways of composting waste
• Reduction of waste generation

Commercial Forestry: KCIC is looking to incubate innovative businesses across all commercial forestry value chains that encourage growth of commercial forests, innovative processing technologies and manufacturing of value added as, this will focus on but not limited to;

• Planting Trees for commercial purposes on at least 3 acres of land
• Demonstrating sustainable practices in forest management and tree harvesting to build resilient forests
• Use of technologies to grow and monitor forest coverage that reduce deforestation and degradation
• Innovative best practices in agroforestry that enhance agricultural landscape resiliency, facilitate species movement to more favorable conditions, sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Commercial tree nurseries and seeds production facilities
• Efficient production, processing and use of wood raw material

BENEFITS

The following describes the kind of financial support that can be provided by KCIC to successful applicants under the GreenBiz Programme. Support is based on assessment of actual needs on a case-by-case basis.

Two types of financial support:

•  Successful applicants can receive financial support through either Proof-of-Concept grant financing (POC) or Early-Stage Financing (ESF) to support the innovative businesses.
• In order for the Successful Applicants to be considered for financing under the GreenBiz Programme, their business models will be evaluated against the criteria for financing, defined in the KCIC POC and ESF Financing criteria.
• Funds application, evaluation and processing will come after 3 months of technical support and advisory services for POC cases and 3-6 months of technical support and advisory services for ESF cases that will assist businesses develop Bankable proposals.

POC

• The purpose of Proof-of-Concept grant financing is to prove a concept of an idea, test prototype in the market, product development support before market testing, refine the business model and progress towards commercialization.
• It is a non-repayable matching grant subject to agreed drawdown milestones.
• The size of POC support must fall within the following ranges:

-Minimum amount: Kes 1,000,000

-Maximum amount: Kes. 5,000,000

ESF

• The purpose of the Early-Stage Financing (ESF) is to support businesses at the growth stage and can scale their business.
• It’s a repayable debt
• Interest rates ranging from 8% – 10% per annum
• The size of ESF support must fall within the following ranges:

-Minimum amount: Kes. 5,000,000

-Maximum amount: Kes.10,000,000

External Financing

• KCIC will also provide transaction advisory services to entrepreneurs to be able to access third party financing such as debts, grants and equity investments

The following describes the kind of technical support that can be provided by KCIC to successful applicants under the GreenBiz Programme. Support is based on assessment of actual needs on a case-by-case basis.

A) Business Advisory

Successful applicants will be equipped with technical knowledge, tools and skills that will enable them to identify and develop their business. Based on a gap analysis, it will entail the following support:

●   Entrepreneurship trainings

●   Technical training and value addition

●   Business modelling to start and run the business including record keeping, statutory requirements and compliance

●   Value Chain and Business Linkages Advisory

●   Financial literacy training and investor readiness programs

●   Provide case studies to foster exchange of learning and inspiration among Value Chain groups.

●   Virtual learning and advisory support via computer platforms or mobile to support program beneficiaries during and post COVID -19 scenario

●   Onsite learning and advisory support will be provided

●   Development of bankable business plans and financial models.

B) Mentorship and Coaching

Successful applicants will be mentored by experienced sector specific mentors, business experts, technical experts and certified business mentors to develop specific skills and knowledge that will enhance their business and personal growth. The specific activities include:

●   Counselling and guidance by successful businesspersons, peers, and professionals.

●   Sharing of experiences in business forums and associations.

●   Teaming and virtual training.

●   Technical Coaching and Expertise

●   One-on-one coaching

●   Conduct value chain mapping and needs assessment

C) Access to Information

Successful applicants will benefit from information sharing and establishing partnerships with Ecosystem players, companies and other stakeholders for effective market access through collaborative agreements. The specific activities include:

●   Create online platforms for information sharing and networking

●   Providing information on business development within the thematic areas, including policy and regulatory changes.

●   Ensure participation or hosting of entrepreneurs to local and international start-up conferences

●   Expose entrepreneurs to business expansion opportunities & international investors

●   Link entrepreneurs to local and international customers

●   Research and identification of markets as well as establishment of Market linkages.

●   Linkage and facilitation to attend exhibitions, trade fairs and other events

D) Enabling Environment

Successful applicants will benefit from access to services that will enable them to improve the current market they are operating in, increase number of customers, have access to various sector specific events that directly affect their business through;

●   Invitations to Policy dialogues that directly affect the business or the sector in general

●   Access to exhibition and expos whereby they can be able to actively showcase their products

●   Networking forums for the entrepreneurs to create partnerships that will foster growth of the company.

E) Access to Facilities

Successful applicants will benefit from access to various business specific resources that will enable them to improve the quality of product and the quality of service they offer and have a central location they can be able to use as their offices; this will be through;

●   Access to office facilities; co-working spaces to facilitate business meetings and improve company relation with potential business partners and also meet potential clients

●   Access to testing and prototyping facilities that will enable the business to improve and develop the current products for better market experience for the entrepreneur.

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