The OSCE GEMS Award for young Green Entrepreneurs in the Mediterranean making a Social impact:

We’re looking for you!

We look for Switchers, innovative entrepreneurs with green business ideas that improve the environment and have social impact at the same time. Green Entrepreneurs that design new products and services using ecodesign principles and that contribute to make sustainable consumption and production in the Mediterranean a reality.

We have found many Switchers that have already joined our community. The Switchers is a community of inspiring green entrepreneurs and change makers in the Mediterranean region.

→ You can find their stories at TheSwitchers.eu

Social Impact

Green Entrepreneurs are increasingly recognized as key actors that create inclusive and sustainable societies, which in turn generate peace and prosperity for their citizens.

The OSCE (the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) has decided to promote Green and Social Entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean as a tool for contributing to stability and peace in the region.The OSCE has decided to partner with the SwitchersFund and its promoters by launching the OSCE GEMS Awards, thanks to an initial endowment by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

The OSCE GEMS Award will reward young entrepreneurs from Mediterranean countries who submit innovative ideas to improve their environment that have as well a social impact.

The Grant

The OSCE GEMS Award will provide a 15,000€ grant to the best business ideas submitted by young Green Entrepreneurs from the Mediterranean, so they can turn their idea into a business.

Please note that the OSCE Mediterranean Partner Countries are Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. Therefore for the purpose of the call only entrepreneurs from these country may be eligible to apply.

Who is eligible ?

Male and female Green Entrepreneurs, under 35 years from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia who fulfill the following criteria:

01.Have the purpose to achieve social and environmental impact by providing entrepreneurial solutions to an environmental or societal issue based on a scalable approach, and expressly state such purpose in their articles of association or similar corporate documents.

02. In the frame of their social and environmental purpose, define ex-ante their social and environmental impact objectives within their business plans and specify associated metrics for directing operations and monitoring their impact ex-post.

03. Run business models and structures, which enable them to fund themselves on a non-grant basis with a view to self-sustainability.

04. Re-invest all or at least part of their profits into social or environmental activities or employ staff from vulnerable groups and/or marginalised social groups.

05. Are managed in an accountable, sustainable and inclusive way, taking into account the interests of employees, customers and other stakeholders affected by their business activities.

How to apply?

By completing the application form and submitting the required documents. You can complement your application with a short presentation video (max. 90 seconds).