The European Union-Philippines’ Green Economy Partnership program launched a call for projects that aims to strengthen the potential of eco-businesses across the Philippines and address gaps in the circular and green economy business ecosystem.

The Green Up to Scale Up initiative will provide grants of between EUR 200,000 and 500,000 (P12 to 31 million), for a total of EUR 1.5 million (PHP 93 million). The grants target organizations that help up-and-coming eco-entrepreneurs to develop successful businesses. The first phase of the application period will run until May 2.

In addition to receiving funding, grantees will be able to benefit from technical assistance, making sure that they are well-equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to help green businesses innovate.

Implemented the Philippines by Expertise France together with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology, Green Up to Scale Up aims to propel the creation and growth of innovative circular and green start-up initiatives. This initiative has been designed in consultation with entrepreneurs, incubators, accelerators, regional and national government officials, and other key actors. The goal has been to ensure that it addresses the roadblocks faced by the green business ecosystem, and caters to the needs of green start-up enablers.

“The Green Economy partnership is a unique programme under the EU Global Gateway strategy to mobilize sustainable investments. The ‘Green Up to Scale Up’ grant initiative is an important milestone in this partnership, and we hope that it will promote business innovations towards a greener and climate-smart economy in the Philippines,” said Ambassador Massimo Santoro of the European Union to the Philippines.

“We invite all start-up enablers that are involved in circular and green businesses to apply for the grant. We have co-designed the programme with key ecosystem actors and stakeholders, so this grant is a hundred percent for them,, said Marie-Maylis Charlat, project leader of the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership’s component on green business, infrastructure, and finance.

Funded by a P3.67 billion (€60 million) grant from the European Union, the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership will run from 2023 to 2028 in collaboration with the government of the Philippines, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This priority programme of the European Union in the Philippines links European and Filipino partners from the private sector and local governments to foster a circular economy and the reduction of plastic waste. It also aims to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through technology transfers and investments, the programme aims to accelerate the transition to a greener economy while sustaining economic growth that benefits all Filipinos.

Implemented by Germany's development agency GIZ, UNDP Philippines, Expertise France with Global Green Growth Institute, and the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, the programme is part of EU’s Global Gateway initiative - the European strategy engaging with partners globally and promoting investments around shared priorities such as the transition to a green economy and the advancement of digital infrastructure, among others.

Expertise France, the French technical cooperation agency, which is part of the Agence Française de Dévelopment (AFD) group, leads the implementation of the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership’s interventions supporting the emergence of eco startups and the establishment of green public-private partnerships, the integration of the informal waste sector in solid waste management, and building the interest of the finance sector to invest in high-potential green businesses. Expertise France’s work, under the Green Economy partnership, is carried out together with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology.