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Wealth Creation - Revolving Fund

The association has established a revolving fund that shall be used to give interest-free loans and grants to deserving members to expand their income-generating activities. The funds used to establish the revolving fund shall come from grants, donations, income-generating activities, and fundraisers organized by the association.

In addition to the generosity of our supporters we welcome the support of growing number of supporters, well-wishers, institutions, individual donors and companies. If you would like to support our work-transforming lives through education, consider undertaking one-or-more of the following:

Making financial donations
Providing direct donations for our revolving fund
Donating medical supplies
Hosting an event to raise funds for us
Coming up with your own innovative ways of raising funds for us, either on your own or with a group of friends or colleague

Sustainable Business Grant

Sustainable Business Grant is an economic empowerment program that primarily targets rural and peri-urban youth and women who are under employed and lack the financial resources and know-how to create viable sustainable businesses

1. Introduction

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 expected outcome will be increased commercialisation and scale up of climate related companies, which create decent jobs, increased access to low carbon energy sources, increased community and household resilience to climate change as well as other environmental and social benefits.
Through strategic partnerships, KCIC will work to influence the creation of enabling legal and regulatory frameworks for clean tech businesses as well as the mainstreaming of the green growth and climate change agenda into the Kenyan economy.
KCIC is engaged in five sectors: water; renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE & EE);
agriculture; commercial forestry and waste management. By focusing on these sectors, KCIC (and its clients) will directly and indirectly contribute to the achievement of SDG 1 (no poverty); SDG 2 (no hunger); SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy),
and SDG 13 (climate action). Others are SDG 15 (life on land); SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
The Kenya Climate Innovation Center, which is the implementing partner, is placing a call for applications to our GreenBiz Incubator and Accelerator programme to support climate smart businesses under 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.
The applications can be submitted online through the KCIC website. The calls for applications will run from 26th January to 28th February 2022. Thereafter, evaluation of the applications will be done and responses to the applicants will be communicated by KCIC by 21st March 2022. KCIC will offer successful applicants a letter of agreement for review and thereafter signing. This call for applications aims to onboard sixty (60) climate technologies that cover renewable energies and energy efficiency, water, agribusiness, commercial forestry and waste management.
Post on-boarding to the programme, a needs assessment exercise will be conducted to ascertain the specific needs of the successful applicants. Based on these needs, successful applicants will receive technical and financial support based on assessment done to support their growth.

2. Application Process

All Applications must be submitted online through the Kenya Climate Innovation Center website Application portal
The Applicants must complete an application form by answering a series of mandatory questions
The applicants must indicate which programme they are applying to join into i.e. The Incubation programme or Accelerator Programme
Personal information supplied in the application form such as names, addresses and date of birth should be verifiable and the applicant is solely responsible for informing KCIC of changes in current contact methods indicated in their application.
The Applicant must provide current correspondence address, email and telephone numbers and inform of any changes during the review and onboarding process.
Upon submission of the application form, an email will be sent to the Applicant or via the preferred contact method indicated in their application.
Once submitted, applications cannot be altered or amended.
Review of applications will commence immediately after client applications have been received in our system. Shortlisting of applicants will take place following the close of the Application Window.

3. NEWA Programs

Applicants can apply to join either the incubation or the acceleration Programme:

a. GreenBiz Incubation Programme

This is a 12-month programme targeting start-ups and early-stage businesses that have at least developed a prototype. The businesses receive intensive practical training and business coaching to enable them prove their concepts in the market and progress towards commercialization. Clients who successfully complete this program can apply for the KCIC GreenBiz Accelerator Programme.

Incubation programme eligibility metrics

A limited company / Sole proprietorship
Business is within KCIC’s five thematic areas
Have an innovative product, service or business model.
Be in the early stages of business development.
Demonstrate a climate change angle: the business must contribute to mitigation or adaptation to climate change, and/or have a positive impact on the natural environment, including biodiversity. This should contribute to social, economic and environmental resilience to climate related disruption and disaster

b. GreenBiz Accelerator Programme

This is a 9-month programme in which clients are provided with highly individualized services aimed at:

Setting the clients on a rapid business growth path
Preparing clients to be investor ready as well as raising investments.

GreenBiz Acceleration programme eligibility metrics

A limited company incorporated and operating in Kenya
The company is within KCIC’s five thematic areas
Have an Innovative product, service or business model
A proven business model and a well-defined financial model
Post-revenue stage
Looking to raise capital
Team of 2+ full time employees

Demonstrate a climate angle: the business must contribute to mitigation or adaptation to climate change, and/or have a positive impact on the natural environment, including biodiversity. This should contribute to social, economic and environmental resilience to climate related disruption and disaster

4. 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;

· Promoting heat and drought resistant crops

· Sustainable climate-resilient farming methods

· Energy efficient agricultural machinery and carbon neutral system

· Efficient irrigation (water saving) mechanisms/Technologies.

· Climate friendly inputs/alternatives for example pesticides, fertilizers, and other field operations.

· Post-harvest management technologies to prevent post-harvest losses in handling, storing and transportation

· Set up/use of early warning communications system for agricultural purposes (e.g., communications/IT solutions for monitoring crops, precipitation, temperature etc. to avoid crop loss through climate-related stress or disaster)

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

· Promoting water conservation in areas subject to increased water stress due to climate change

· Innovative technologies in rainwater harvesting and storage

· Efficient irrigation technologies

· Biotechnology for water treatment.

· Smart Water Metering

· Climate resilient supply and distribution of clean water and storage to ensure access where water resource is limited due to climate change

· Treatment of water resources with the introduction of recycled water

· Wastewater management systems, or systems designed to protect the quality and quantity of existing water resources in the face of climate change

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.

● E-mobility services running on renewable energy

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 recycling

● 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 demonstrating sustainable practices to build resilient forests leading to increased forest cove. This will focus on but not limited to:

● Planting Trees for commercial purposes on at least 3 acres of land

● 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 favourable conditions, sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

● Commercial tree nurseries and seeds production facilities

● Efficient production, processing and use of wood raw materials

Mainstreaming of climate change considerations in businesses and services within the five areas/sectors:

The key purpose of the GreenBiz programme is to support businesses who provide climate-smart solution through their products and services within the five sectors. However, businesses might also be considered as climate-smart businesses based on the mainstreaming principles below:

On mitigation: Businesses – within the five areas/sectors – that contribute to a mitigating effect on climate change by greening their practices and reducing GHG emission from their production/operation or include climate change concepts in their strategies or guide their investments.

On adaptation: Businesses – within the five areas/sectors – that contribute to climate change adaptation, e.g., by diversifying income opportunities for communities that cannot continue their traditional way of life as a result of climate change but also by supporting the development, distribution or adoption of new technologies to better deal with climate change.

5. Application Selection

The applications will be screened for eligibility.
The eligible applications will then be evaluated on a set of criteria. A scoring system will be used to provide incubation applications with a score between 1 and 37 (37 being most successful) and acceleration applications with a score between 1 and 42 (42 being most successful)
All applicants will receive an official response on their application determining whether they were successful or not. KCIC is not obligated to provide substantive feedback on unsuccessful applications.
Successful clients will receive an email indicating terms of the programme and proposed due diligence dates, while unsuccessful clients will receive an email indicating proper justification of why their application was rejected.
The applicant can contest the evaluation by submitting a formal request to KCIC within 14 days upon receiving the rejection email.
Applicants will be contacted via email regarding their application.
Due Diligence shall be carried out on the successful applicants to verify eligibility prior to any potential offer of a placement in the programme.
Applications that do not meet all or some of the eligibility criteria will not be accepted.
If Applicants are offered a place in the programme, they will be expected to execute a legal agreement with Kenya Climate Innovation Center, by signing a Letter of Agreement, which will be sent to them via email.

6. Criteria and Scoring System

• The following criteria and scoring system will be used for the evaluation of the eligible applications for this call.

Scalability – does the business model that shows clear and compelling mission to grow a sustainable and commercially viable business
Climate Impact – The extent to which the business/product/technology has impact on climate mitigation OR climate adaptation OR environmental benefits.
Job Creation – The potential of the business/product/technology towards job creation.
Progress to date – has the applicant taken key steps to move the idea forward?
Innovation – is the business innovative in the way it addresses an identified problem in the market / has a unique business model?
Profitability – What is the business’s ability to produce a return on an investment based on its resources in comparison with an alternative investment?
Entrepreneur commitment – What is the entrepreneur’s commitment in terms of time and resources which informs the business’s purpose and helps it succeed?

7. Technical Support

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.

1. 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 programmes
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 programme beneficiaries during and post COVID -19 scenario
Onsite learning and advisory support will be provided
Development of bankable business plans and financial models.

1. 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

1. 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.

8. Financial Support

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 commercialisation.

• 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

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 commercialisation.
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