Leveraging the Potential of Green and Inclusive Businesses

The greatest global challenges of today – poverty, pollution, and climate change – are closely linked. People living at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP) are the most vulnerable to environmental pollution and suffer most severely from the consequences of climate change. Achieving green and inclusive growth has become an urgent and challenging priority in which the private sector has a crucial role to play. In this context, green and inclusive business models are becoming increasingly visible: by providing market-based solutions to poverty reduction and simultaneously reducing environmental impact, they offer a promising approach in shifting towards sustainable growth.

GIZ – the German Agency for International Cooperation – has just launched a new and exciting competition to recognize the next Champions for Green and Inclusive Markets. The CHANGING Markets Award seeks to identify companies that are successfully building their business case around environmental considerations and creating real impact at the BoP. Special attention will be given to businesses which act as drivers of market change, towards a green and more inclusive world.

The Award is organised in the framework of the 16th International Business Forum (IBF) taking place in Istanbul, Turkey on the 23-24 October 2013. The IBF brings together 250 participants from around the world from government, private sector and civil society, this year focusing on the topic of Green and Inclusive Businesses.

The 10 most promising entreprises will be elected as finalists and invited to the IBF to present their innovative business model to influential delegates. There they will have the opportunity to put their skills and knowledge directly into practice during forums and targeted workshops, where they discuss their successes and challenges. Up to 3 winners chosen from the finalists will additionally receive a monetary prize of 5,000 Euro.

Submission deadline is 1 September 2013, 23:59 CET.

The Award is targeting businesses or initiatives from emerging and developing countries with a minimum of 2 years of operation and that are financially sustainable. An international jury panel composed of experts in the field of environment, inclusive business and development will choose the winners during a public jury session.

To find out more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Award website at www.ibf2013.adelphi.de

More information about the IBF will soon be available at www.ibf2013.net