Climate Solutions and Sustainable Entrepreneurship

The Office of Global Partnerships (GP) of the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announces an open competition for organizations to submit a statement of interest (SOI) to carry out a program (or programs) to expand and amplify the Department’s response to the climate crisis. GP has launched the Climate Solutions and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Fund (CSSEF) to drive sustainability-focused programming in makerspaces, community centers, and technology labs in developing economies that strive to capacitate local entrepreneurs and increase their ability to scale climate solutions to market. GP hopes to help create local communities of entrepreneurs and entrepreneur-support organizations around these hubs that are more market-savvy, more resourced, more cooperative amongst each other, and better able to generate climate solutions. SOIs that work to enable an economic response to the climate crisis, such as coaching and mentorship curriculum, capital-raising guidance, recruitment and education of environmentally-focused entrepreneurs, event management, and other economic engagement are welcome. These examples are only made for illustrative purpose and the Department welcomes hearing of the creativity from the private sector.

The following organizations are eligible to apply:• U.S. non-profit/non-governmental organizations;• (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS;• Overseas-based non-profit/non-governmental organizations;• U.S. and overseas private/state institutions of higher education; and• for-profit and commercial firms.• Applicants may partner with hub owners of public or private origin, such as the American Spaces program, so long as the hubs are not supported by a government deemed ineligible for the CSSEF.