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Are you an organization that supports the circular business model? Are you a non-governmental organization that empowers small businesses and entrepreneurs become sustainable? Are you owning a small business implementing or wanting to scale sustainable innovations? Become a Small Business Champion today!
Opportunity Details
Small businesses play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable practices by driving innovation and developing circular economy solutions. This is especially visible in business models based on reuse, material-shift, waste repurposing and avoidance. The green economy itself can create opportunities for small businesses through demand for new products and services that increase production efficiency and lower business costs.
According to a 2021 ITC survey of African firms, more than half of respondents reported that greening their companies led to improvements in their products' output and quality, new market access, reduced input costs and a better ability to access green finance. Moving to a circular model can also add value to their products. However, small businesses often face limitations in resources and capabilities that hinder their potential to scale sustainable innovations.
International trade can support circular business practices by providing access to sustainable inputs, technologies and markets for waste recovery. It can also provide the demand needed for innovative businesses to scale and thrive. This helps make circular operations more economically viable, helping to disseminate innovations across borders and support local economies.
And this is where you can step in!
Are you an organization that supports the circular business model? Are you a non-governmental organization that empowers small businesses and entrepreneurs become sustainable? Are you owning a small business implementing or wanting to scale sustainable innovations?
Become a Small Business Champion!
Launched for the first time in 2021, the World Trade Organization’s Informal Working Group of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, together with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), and this year in partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), are calling for innovative ideas that help small businesses participate and contribute to the circular economy.
With this competition, your ideas will not only raise awareness among businesses and policymakers of the diversity and opportunities for a circular economy but will also promote best practices in supporting the sustainability and resilience of small businesses, and their participation in international trade through efficient, innovative and zero-waste business models.
What should the proposal entail?
Award details
The winner(s) will be invited to travel to Geneva for the award ceremony on 26 June 2025, sponsored by ICC and ITC. The International Trade Centre will additionally award each winner $4,000 prize money to support the development or further scaling of their winning project and issue an award certificate.
Moreover, training and mentoring opportunities will be discussed with each winner according to their needs, while winning submissions will be promoted by ICC, ITC, UN Trade and Development and the WTO MSME Group through their communication channels.
Proposals are open to small businesses, enterprises, industry associations, chambers of commerce and non-governmental organizations
Apply for ICC-ITC-WTO MSME Group Small Business Champions Competition