CHANGING Markets Award

The CHANGING Markets Award rewards enterprises that are actively contributing to a greener, more inclusive world. We seek to identify companies ("Champions for Green and Inclusive Markets") that are successfully building their business case around environmental considerations and creating real impact at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP).

We will select the 10 most promising enterprises as finalists and invite them to the 16th International Business Forum (IBF) 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. As a finalist, you will be supported in further building your capacity in targeted workshops directly before and after the Forum. Our facilitators focus on sharpening business cases and profiles and on promoting a productive exchange of experience. Finalists have the opportunity to put their skills and knowledge directly into practice during the IBF, where they can showcase their business models and discuss their successes and challenges. As a highlight of the IBF, 3 winners will be chosen in a public jury session. Distinguished jury members will elect those enterprises that are truly inspiring and transformative – the "Champions for Green and Inclusive Markets".

The CHANGING Markets Award is implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

What do finalists and winners gain from the experience?

As a finalist, you will be supported in various ways:

• Full stipend for a 5-day stay in Istanbul 21-25 October, 2013 and participation in the 16th International Business Forum (for one representative per organisation)
• Targeted capacity building workshops to sharpen your business case and profile
• Experience exchange with like-minded business leaders from around the world
• Opportunities to present your business to influential representatives from government, private sector and civil society at the 16th IBF
• National and international promotion of your business on selected business platforms, including the IBF website, and through social media
• Membership in the IBF network, where leading practitioners and intellectual leaders from the business and government sector exchange their views.

Up to 3 winners chosen from the finalists will additionally receive a monetary prize of 5,000 Euro.

Who can apply for the Award?

• For profit and non-profit entities: businesses, subsidiaries, NGOs, community-based organisations, public sector organisations; our focus is on small and medium enterprises (SME) but initiatives of larges companies can also apply
• Businesses or initiatives with a minimum of 2 years of operation; you need to have demonstrated the viability of your business case
• Businesses or initiatives operating in an emerging or developing country (all countries except EU and OECD member states, but including Turkey)²

What qualifies you as a finalist?

We are looking for enterprises that achieve convincing and quantifiable environmental impacts and benefit people living at the BoP. These green and inclusive impacts can for instance be achieved at the enterprise level (e.g., resource efficient production processes, integration of the BoP as suppliers, distributors or retailers in the value chain), the product and service level (e.g., a renewable energy product which addresses the BoP as consumers or beneficiaries), or through a comprehensive integration of green and inclusive aspects in the overall business model. While non-profit enterprises may apply, we specifically look for those that are financially sustainable through the sale of their products and services, and thus do not rely on donations, grants, or development programmes.

Further, strong candidates will have achieved impacts for a transformation towards a green and inclusive economy that goes beyond their immediate business. Activities in this regard can include active market creation, advocacy and collaboration with other stakeholders on changing framework conditions.

You need to fulfill all eligibility criteria in order to be able to apply. Eligible businesses need to:

• Have a green value proposition and impacts on the BoP: the business needs to create quantifiable environmental impacts as well as social or economic benefits at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP)¹
• Have been in operation for a minimum of 2 years
• Be operating in an emerging or developing country (all countries except EU and OECD member states, but including Turkey)²
• Offer a product or service on the market that is commercially viable
• Be for profit or non-profit entities: businesses, subsidiaries, business associations, NGOs, community-based organisations, think tanks, research institutions or public sector organisations.

Your application will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Environmental impacts and benefits for the BoP generated by your business
• Extent of integration of green and inclusive aspects
• Viability of your business case and financial sustainability
• Achieved impacts for a transformation towards a green and inclusive economy and potential to act as an agent of change.

There are two ways to apply for the Award:

• Apply online
• Download the application form here and send it by email to the Awards team: ibf2013@adelphi.de

Please note that only complete submissions that are received until 1 September 2013, 23:59 Central European Time (CET) will be considered. Late submissions cannot be considered.

Applicants that are selected as finalists will be offered feedback and invited to submit additional information at the end of September. To view a detailed timeline of the whole application and selection process, click here.

If you have any queries, please see the Frequently Asked Questions. If your question is not among the FAQs or if you are unable to submit your application electronically, please contact the IBF team by email ibf2013@giz.de or phone + 49 6196 79-6698.

Moreinfo: https://ibf2013.adelphi.de