PNG Greenpreneurs Incubator program kicks off with local partnership between GGGI & Emstret Space
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - On October 19th, 2021, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)’s Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN) in partnership with Emstret Space kicked off a four-session Greenpreneurs Incubator Orientation virtual workshop tailored for Papua New Guinean green entrepreneurs, running from 19th to 27th October, as the first activity under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the parties last month. The MoU was signed virtually by Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of GGGI and Ms. Vani Nades, Chief Executive Officer of Emstret Space.
Under this 3-year MoU, GGGI and Emstret Space will work closely to boost the existing support available for green entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea through the Qatar Fund For Development-funded Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network Program (PGEN) program, that seeks to deliver economic growth that is both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, in support of green job growth through green entrepreneurship, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Climate Agreement.
The workshop was attended by all 20 participating green enterprises representing 8 provinces in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from various sectors including agriculture, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing and waste management.
During opening remarks, Mr. Peniamina Leavai, GGGI Deputy Country Representative of PNG, acknowledged PGEN’s funder, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and in-country partners the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) and Emstret Space for making this program possible. He mentioned, “We are grateful that QFFD recognized the potential and importance of such green entrepreneurship programs to deal with both Building Back Better and climate change adaptation, The Qatar Fund, welcomed GGGI’s proposal at a time when the Pacific is suffering from job losses due to COVID and ever-increasing climate extreme events”.
He commended PNG participants for empowering women and youth, in so-doing exceeding targets which is to support green and inclusive job growth across the country. He said, “If I understand correctly, more than 50% of successful PNG applicants who are attending the workshop are females”, a significant achievement showing the enthusiasm and resourcefulness of PNG women entrepreneurs.
Mr. Leavai shared that through the Incubator program, GGGI plans to provide some support around formalizing business plans, thinking both creatively and strategically to take their green ideas hopefully to the next level.
The virtual orientation workshop enabled participants to meet fellow Greenpreneurs around PNG, engage in online training and discussions and connect with their mentors and build their digital literacy. The PNG Greenpreneurs join the larger Pacific Greenpreneurs 2021 cohort comprising of 68 green enterprises representing six Pacific Island Countries.
Following the Incubator virtual workshop, the PGEN Incubator Program will continue for the next 11 weeks where Greenpreneurs will be involved in training, mentoring, 1-1 coaching leading up to the business plan competition at the end of January 2022.
The 3-year PGEN program is funded by the Qatar Fund for Development and is being implemented by GGGI. PGEN aims to support green and inclusive job growth by supporting entrepreneurs (particularly women and youth) develop their green and sustainable businesses - contributing to their country’s climate and sustainable development goals in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
The Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator program offers a training and mentoring program for existing innovative early-stage green micro, small, and medium-enterprises (MSMEs). The program will culminate in a business plan competition where green enterprises will be able to win grant funding of USD$5,000 to grow their businesses.
Applications for the 2022 cohort are expected to open around April-May 2022.
More information on Pacific Greenpreneurs can be found at www.pacificgreenpreneurs.com.
About Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI):
Based in Seoul, GGGI is an intergovernmental organization that supports governments of developing countries to transition to a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. GGGI delivers programs in over 40 partner countries with technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and by helping to build a pipeline of bankable green investment projects. More on GGGI’s events, projects, and publications can be found on www.gggi.org. You can also follow GGGI on Twitter and join us on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD):
Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) is a Qatari public institution committed, on behalf of the State of Qatar, to implement foreign aid projects by international best practices and standards.
Since 2012, QFFD has been providing aid to many countries in accordance with the international cooperation goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. Its primary goal is to achieve inclusive and sustainable development by addressing global priority issues in education, health, and economic development. In this context, priority is given to the following Sustainable Development Goals:
• SDG 3: "Ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all";
• SDG 4: "Ensuring fair and inclusive education for all and enhancing lifelong learning for all";
• SDG 8: "Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and keeping full and productive employment and decent work for all."
To realize the optimal development impact, QFFD projects are also designed to have cross-cutting co-benefits within SDG (2) on "Zero hunger" and SDG (6) on "Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all" in addition to SDG (17) on "Partnerships to Achieve Goals."
QFFD cooperates with many reputable actors through strategic partnerships both locally and internationally. These include Civil Society Organizations, government agencies, UN agencies, and the private sector.
About Emstret Space:
Emstret Space is creating an inclusive innovative ecosystem for entrepreneurs’ development and empowerment in Papua New Guinea. It is the first creative and innovative ideas in PNG creating open fun working space. It’s aim is to provide solutions for young energetic entrepreneurs, start-ups assisting with resources with ideal office and workspace, at the same time connecting freelancers, mentors, entrepreneurs, startups, professionals, artists and SME’s together.
Emstret Space is an exciting work environment, planned purposely with innovators in mind and tailored to provide entrepreneurs and startups not just what they want, but what they need.