YBI advocates for specialized support for young green entrepreneurs at ILO’s Global Conference on Decent Jobs for Youth

Last week, YBI’s CEO Anita Tiessen joined Savinda Ranathunga and Xin Gao from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and moderator Mohamed Ageez, advisor to the Green Jobs for Youth Pact, on the panel ‘Green Horizons: Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs’ at the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Global Conference on Decent Jobs for Youth in Kigali, Rwanda. Anita introduced YBI’s Green and Social Entrepreneurship Toolkit and discussed strategies to support young green entrepreneurs.

At Youth Business International (YBI), we know that young green and social entrepreneurs are agents and leaders of change, creating vital economic and employment opportunities in the process. They have the potential to redefine the very fabric of our economy, ensuring that prosperity is not only measured in economic terms but also in the well-being of our societies and the health of our planet. Youth-led green and social businesses are critical to sustainable economic development and key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

However, building a business that measures success not only in profit but impact comes with particular challenges that often make it harder for these young entrepreneurs to secure funding and support. Investment decisions are often profit-driven which places green businesses that prioritise impact over profit at a disadvantage. Measuring and evidencing impact can be challenging for young entrepreneurs who are just starting out. Availability of support, including financial, capacity building or mentoring, varies greatly in different countries and regions.

Our leadership of the only global youth entrepreneurship network gives us a unique perspective on social and green entrepreneurship worldwide. Our reach means we have a unique opportunity to make a difference and, through our global network, to understand and respond to the local contexts in which these young people are building their social and green businesses.

Our global perspective and reach enabled us to develop our Green and Social Entrepreneurship Toolkit together with nine of our member organisations from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. It compiles tools covering six key areas including personal development and self-knowledge, business and impact ideation, business model, business validation, legal, governance, and finance, and impact measurement and growth. The toolkit is aimed at enterprise support organistaions (ESOs) who want to start or improve their support for green and social entrepreneurs. As it was co-created with YBI members from four different regions, the toolkit is usable and relevant for young green and social entrepreneurs in various country contexts.

The panel discussion highlighted UNDP’s key role at the inter-governmental and ecosystem level and YBI’s practical support for burgeoning green entrepreneurs. Anita introduced the Social Business Model Canvas tool, which is designed with social entrepreneurs in mind but also works for green entrepreneurs. Young entrepreneur Emmanuel Opara from Nigeria used the tool for his business Ecosus Circularity, supported by YBI member Fate Foundation, and shares how it has helped his business:

Specialised support is crucial for young green and social entrepreneurs to succeed. When provided with the right support, they become a force for good, solving pressing environmental and social issues through their businesses. YBI advocates for: 

• Specialised support for young entrepreneurs whose businesses address social and environmental issues, including personal development and business skills training  
• Increased access to finance for youth-led social and environmental impact businesses that prioritise impact  
• Localised solutions – green and social businesses are often addressing local challenges and need support that is tailored to their context 
• Reduction of regulatory barriers for green and social young entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses