Acceleration program for green economy businesses from Nizhyn and Kovel

The program is organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine within the "Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine" project with financial support from the Government of Japan. The initiative is implemented in cooperation with Greencubator.

The goal of the program is to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the green economy or planning to implement environmental or energy-efficient solutions in their operations.

The program aims to strengthen the resilience of local communities and promote sustainable economic development by supporting innovative green business models.

To be eligible to participate in the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Type of enterprise: micro, small, or medium-sized enterprise (MSME).
• Business experience: at least 1 year of operational activity since official registration.
• Geographic eligibility: the enterprise must be registered and operating within the Nizhyn or Kovel territorial communities.
• Language requirement: proficiency in Ukrainian for participation and communication within the program.

General Requirements for Solutions

• Applicants must propose practical and implementation-ready solutions that contribute to local economic development.
• Solutions should enhance community energy resilience and comply with environmental sustainability principles.
• Priority is given to initiatives that promote sustainable development and efficient resource use.

Priorities for Participants from Kovel

Applicants are expected to propose solutions that:

• Strengthen the economic resilience of MSMEs through sustainable and resource-efficient business models.
• Support the transition to green products, services, and processes that create added value and competitive advantages.
• Contribute to the growth of green entrepreneurship, including through innovation, new markets, and partnerships.

Priorities for Participants from Nizhyn

Special consideration is given to solutions that:

• Enable the transformation of business models toward sustainability and circularity.
• Promote the adoption of innovative green solutions that improve business competitiveness.
• Create new opportunities for local economic growth through innovation, market expansion, and collaboration.

Participation in the program requires applicants to present a clearly defined innovation that strengthens business resilience and contributes to the development of the local green economy.

After the successful completion of the program, four MSMEs (two from each city) will receive USD 10,000 each to pilot and implement their solutions focused on green solutions, improving energy efficiency, or scaling environmental businesses at the local level.

The grant program, implemented by UNDP in Ukraine and BOOST under the CEF x BOOST Green Economy Innovation Challenge, is designed to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that implement green innovations to promote local economic recovery.

Selected participants from Nizhyn and Kovel will receive comprehensive acceleration support, including the following activities:

• Training sessions aimed at strengthening business models and introducing innovative green solutions.
• Individual expert mentoring to refine existing innovations and prepare them for practical implementation.
• Peer learning and experience exchange through group sessions and practical collaborative tasks.
• Support in impact assessment, including alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the use of tools to measure business impact.
• Organization of Demonstration Days, where participants present their improved solutions to representatives of the public and private sectors to facilitate further implementation and scaling.

These activities are intended to enhance business capacity, support innovation adoption, and contribute to sustainable economic development at the local level.

You must fill out an online questionnaire at https://forms.gle/vHaxfS5WkL5MsmvN7, providing company information and green project details.

All applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Impact potential: the potential of the proposed solution to deliver tangible benefits for strengthening economic resilience and advancing the green economy of Nizhyn or Kovel.
• Innovation: a new or improved approach, product, service, or technology that creates clear added value.
• Feasibility of implementation: the presence of a clear and achievable plan for piloting or implementing the solution at the local level within the program timeline.
• Scalability: the potential for growth, replication, or adaptation of the solution within the city or beyond.
• Team capacity: the presence of a competent team with the necessary skills and clearly defined roles for piloting and implementation.

Completed application form.