Applications invited for Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs

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About the Organization

The Global Resilience Partnership advances resilience through identifying and scaling on the ground innovation, generating and sharing knowledge, and shaping policy. Resilience underpins sustainable development in an increasingly unpredictable world. We envisage an inclusive world in harmony with nature, that is better prepared to cope with shocks, adapt to change, and transform – all within planetary boundaries.

About the Challenge

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, known as the “Third Pole,” sustains life for over 240 million people in the mountains and 1.65 billion downstream. With its rich biodiversity and vital ecosystems, the region is home to the world’s largest ice reserves outside of the polar regions and supports Asia’s major food-producing river systems. However, the region faces severe challenges, including climate change, ecosystem degradation, and water scarcity, which threaten its agricultural systems, tourism, and overall resilience. There is a significant gap in climate finance to address these issues, and local entrepreneurs lack the resources needed to drive green and resilient innovations.

In response to these challenges, GRP and ICIMOD have come together to launch the Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (HKH-ICE). This initiative, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is designed to mobilise local innovation and entrepreneurship, driving scalable solutions that address ecological, market, and value chain challenges across the region.

HKH-ICE seeks to empower entrepreneurs from Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts only), India (Himalayan states only), and Nepal to develop innovative, climate-resilient solutions in the agriculture, water security, and sustainable tourism sectors. The challenge will support initiatives that leverage the region’s untapped potential for sustainable economic growth and environmental conservation while addressing the urgent need for climate adaptation and resilience.

Focus areas

We are looking for innovative, scalable solutions that enhance resilience for communities and ecosystems across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Initiatives can focus on:

• Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature: Supporting agricultural entrepreneurs to tackle climate impacts on mountain agriculture, enhance biodiversity, and create market linkages for niche products and non-timber forest products (NTFPs).
• Water Security and Resilience: Developing innovations that address water scarcity, improve water services, and mitigate the effects of glacial melt, urbanisation, and demographic change.
• Climate-Resilient Solutions for Sustainable Tourism: Creating new models of sustainable tourism that benefit local communities while preserving the delicate balance of mountain ecosystems.

Benefits

Winners will receive tailored mentoring, leadership development, communications, and resource mobilisation support. Additionally, they will receive prizes ranging from USD 5,000 to 25,000 to further develop and scale their solutions. Shortlisted applicants will also benefit from a leadership academy and capacity-strengthening initiatives with regional and global experts.

Who can apply

HKH-ICE is open to for-profit organisations, local entrepreneurs and innovators from Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts), India (Himalayan states), and Nepal.

How to Apply

Application window: Open from 7 to 29 November 2024

Webinar: A webinar for potential applicants will be held on 26 November

Submission deadline: Applications are due by 23:59 GMT on 29 November 2024

Notifications: Shortlisted applicants will be notified in January 2025

Please email any questions to challenge@globalresiliencepartnership.org.

Apply here

For more information please check the Link

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