EU’s GrEEn project awards matching grant to 12 green entrepreneurs

European Union’s GrEEn project awards matching grant of over GH₵ 1 million to 12 green entrepreneurs.

Accra, Thursday 2 December 2021

Twelve (12) green businesses and entrepreneurs from the Ashanti and Western regions of Ghana will receive a combined matching grant of GHS 1,170,000 under the 2021 GrEEn Innovation Challenge.

The GrEEn Innovation Challenge is part of the Boosting Green Employment and Enterprise Opportunities in Ghana (GrEEn) project, a four-year action primarily funded by the European Union, together with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), since 2019. The GrEEn project is aimed at creating sustainable jobs for youth, women and returning migrants, as well as supporting green businesses and entrepreneurs who want to transition into the green or circular economy.

The GrEEn Innovation Challenge, which was kickstarted by SNV in Ghana in July 2021, is a yearly competition aimed at scaling up innovative green ideas and businesses to create sustainable jobs. The challenge forms part of the GrEEn project’s objective of supporting entrepreneurs and green SMEs as well as creating employment opportunities.

‘The Innovation Challenge is a great incentive and support to young entrepreneurs, especially women entrepreneurs, to transform their dreams and ideas into viable green businesses; businesses that contribute to a local circular economy in Ghana. In this way, GrEEn addresses two big issues in Ghana: youth unemployment and climate crisis. Let’s go green!’ says Anjo van Toorn, Country Director of SNV in Ghana.

The Head of the European Union Delegation to Ghana, Ambassador Irchad Ramiandrasoa Razaaly says: ‘Climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and natural resources shortage are major global challenges. These are shared priorities for EU and Ghana. Addressing them is a necessity! It also offers a wide range of new business opportunities to young Ghanaian entrepreneurs partnering with the EU on promoting sustainable development.’

In a related activity in November 2021, the GrEEn project also awarded a matching grant of GHS 418,857 to 21 green businesses from the Ashanti and Western regions who had completed SNV’s Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) Programme under the GrEEn Business Plan Competition.

About GrEEn:

GrEEn is implemented under the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa, with a funding of EUR 20,000,000 from the EU, and co-funding of EUR 600,000 from SNV and UNCDF. The Project is co-implemented by SNV Ghana and UNCDF in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

For more information: www.snv.org/project/green-boosting-green-employment-and-enterprise-opportunities-ghana.

About EUTF:

The European Union Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa (EUTF for Africa) was created to address the root causes of instability, forced displacement and irregular migration and to contribute to better migration management.

For more information: www.ec.europa.eu/trustfundforafrica

About SNV

SNV is an international not-for-profit development organisation that makes a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty by helping them raise incomes and access basic services. SNV has been present in Ghana since 1992 and focuses on three sectors: agriculture, energy and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene).

For more information: www.snv.org

Media contacts: Deborah Lomotey, Marketing and Communication Advisor, GrEEn project.