- Applications are now open to social entrepreneurs working on innovative solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic in the areas of; health, social impact, economic recovery and the environment
- The “Impact Link: Social Enterprise Challenge 2020” is delivered in Pakistan by the Social Enterprise Academy, UNDP Pakistan, DEMO and SEED Ventures
- The challenge is part of the Scotland: Pakistan Impact Link programme, supported by the Scottish Government, which is now in its second year
27 July 2020:
A new package of support for innovative, youth-led social enterprises has launched this week in Pakistan.
The “Impact Link: Social Enterprise Challenge 2020” will support young social entrepreneurs creating innovative solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Successful applicants will receive a focused support package, which includes funding, mentoring, and a five day virtual bootcamp, to help increase their business resilience and sustainability.
A collaboration between the Social Enterprise Academy, the Scottish Government and Youth Co: Lab (an initiative co-led by UNDP and Citi Foundation), the Impact Link programme will be delivered in Pakistan by the Social Enterprise Academy, UNDP Pakistan, SEED Ventures and DEMO.
Applications are open to youth-led social enterprises working on innovative solutions in the areas of health, social impact, economic recovery and the environment, with particular emphasis on social enterprises that have designed solutions or pivoted their existing ones in response to challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Upon completion of the five-day virtual bootcamp, the top five winners of the challenge will receive a grant of PKR 820,000 (£3,840) while the runners-up will receive PKR 480,000 (£2,248) to upscale their ideas.
Mentors and industry experts will be guiding these young entrepreneurs to build sustainable social ventures, while the winners will also be showcased at the regional Youth Co: Lab Summit next year.
Speaking at the virtual launch, Aliona Niculita, Resident Representative a.i. said:
“With support from Youth Co:Lab, UNDP Pakistan is excited to collaborate with SEA’s Impact Link programme to promote social entrepreneurship, engage youth in social enterprise development and facilitate inclusive employment amongst the unemployed youth of Pakistan, especially during these challenging times.
This collaboration will build on UNDP’s existing work towards enabling youth and youth-led social enterprises to meaningfully engage in initiatives that are working on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Pakistan, while creating spaces that value the participation, ideas, and voice of young people.”
Shaista Ayesha- CEO & Director at SEED Ventures said:
“SEED believes in the power of collaboration. This alliance between Impact Link and UNDP was initiated and spearheaded by SEED and is a testament to our belief. We are excited that it has happened. As Hub partners in Pakistan for Social Enterprise Academy - Scotland, we hope that through this collaboration we can forward and amplify the Academy’s cause for reaching and impacting lives of social entrepreneurs in Pakistan.”
Nazia Ali, Head of International at the Social Enterprise Academy said:
“We are delighted to be able to connect SEA’s Impact Link programme, supported by the Scottish Government, to the Youth Co:Lab at UNDP and DEMO. In our second year of Impact Link in Pakistan, we are able to do crucial work to support and accelerate social entrepreneurs in these challenging times – when innovation is high and the availability and access to support is limited.
There is much we can learn from insightful entrepreneurs working on both rural and urban solutions, and through Impact Link we will be able to lay the foundations for this learning to happen across a cluster of people across Pakistan.”
To apply or find out more about the Impact Link: Social Enterprise Challenge 2020, please visit:
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